Problems in the housing market and a slowing economy have pushed the homeownership rate down to 67.8% -- the lowest rate since the first quarter of 2002. The Census Bureau reported that the homeownership rate declined from 68.2% in the third quarter to 67.8% in the fourth quarter. During the housing boom, the homeownership rate peaked at 69.2% (in the second quarter of 2004). The homeownership rate for blacks rose from 46.7% in the third quarter to 47.7% in the fourth quarter, while the rate for Hispanics fell below 50%, to 48.5%. The Census Bureau report also shows that a large inventory of vacant homes that weighed on real estate markets last year will continue to put downward pressure on house prices in 2008. The number of vacant single-family homes for sale rose 6.5% to 2.18 million in the fourth quarter. There were 2.1 million unsold vacant homes on the market in the fourth quarter of 2006.
-
The threats to companies loom as borrowers face soaring homeowners insurance costs, ex-Ginnie Mae head Ted Tozer explains.
1m ago -
The Federal Housing Administration, the Department of Veterans Affairs and the Federal Housing Finance Agency have started gathering data and analyzing how climate risk will impact the housing ecosystem.
10h ago -
A special committee is exploring any possible structural "strategic alternatives," which would be aimed at increasing shareholder value, the real estate investment trust said.
April 22 -
An insurance-indexed debt-to-income ratio could help mitigate borrowers' rising premiums, and help maintain a healthy servicing portfolio, experts said.
April 22 -
But the number of properties whose mortgage is more than 90 days late is at its lowest since 2006, ICE Mortgage Technology said.
April 22 -
Industry leaders expressed a high degree of satisfaction with technology in use, but also said a product's cost is the most important criteria for them when partnering with vendors, according to Fannie Mae research.
April 22