Origination

Consumers bought just 321,000 homes in 2010, the lowest reading in almost half a century, according to preliminary figures released Wednesday morning by the Census Bureau and the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The seasonally adjusted application volume index fell by 12.9% from the previous week spurred by refinance applications falling to their lowest number in the past 12 months, according to new figures released by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Almost two-thirds of "middle income" Americans between the ages of 55 and 75 are unsure if they have saved enough to live comfortably in retirement.

Bank of Hawaii Corp., a top ranked residential funder in the state, reported fourth-quarter earnings of $40.6 million, flat compared to the same quarter a year earlier.

SettlementOne, San Diego, a holding company with interests in credit data and appraisal management, recently named Joe Bryant national sales manager.

Home prices fell another 1% in November and values are just 3.2 percentage points above their April 2009 low, a sign that a double dip recession is in store for the nation's housing stock, according to figures compiled by Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller.

Those of us of a certain age, as they say, remember Bobby McFerrin's song "Don't Worry, Be Happy." And while that might be a personal philosophy on how one should live, to many it doesn't make sense as a business strategy.

On January 19, Colorado had 3,614 licensed and approved loan officers, a 25% decline from just two weeks earlier, a sign that new licensing and testing requirements are weeding out professionals in the industry.

Last year wasn't the worst ever for home builders in California, but it was the second worst. And 2011 isn't shaping up to be too much better, the California Building Industry Association reported.

ORLANDO, FL—The New American Home, the centerpiece of the National Association of Home Builders annual convention, died on the vine at last year’s show in Las Vegas because the construction lender pulled out midway through the project.