New-home sales rose 2.6% in March after falling 16% since December as homebuilders continued to struggle with large inventories of unsold homes.The U.S. Census Bureau reported that new single-family home sales rose from 836,000 in February to 858,000 in March. The sales pace is off by 23.5% since March 2006. Economists at the National Association of Home Builders were relieved to see an improvement in March, but sales are still slow and they said they don't expect to see a bottom until the end of the second quarter. Meanwhile, the increased sales did not put a dent in inventories. And NAHB senior economist Bernard Markstein said builders are still dealing with high cancellations due to a pullback in subprime lending. When many homebuyers signed a sales contract one or two months ago, they thought they were pre-qualified for a mortgage, Mr. Markstein said. "Now they are being told they can't handle the mortgage, and they cancel." Meanwhile, the Census Bureau still counts it as a sale even though the house is ready to be sold again.
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The Office of the Comptroller of Currency said it will no longer include examinations for disparate impact liability but will still perform fair lending risk assessments on a regular basis.
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The number of homes purchased by foreign buyers increased for the first time in 8 years, with many making all-cash purchases of vacation and rental homes.
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Prosecutors said the defendant will pay back $13,784 in restitution for federal housing assistance he fraudulently obtained between 2019 to 2020.
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Most indicators cited by Morningstar DBRS are favorable to a good securitization market the rest of the year, but inflation is one of several challenges.
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While Sunbelt markets were more likely to see softening property values, the Northeast saw growth continue, according to Intercontinental Exchange.
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Mortgage professionals are more often subject to non-compete and non-solicitation agreements and aren't likely to be impacted by the new Sunshine State law.
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