Origination

Blackstone Group, which led Wall Street's initial foray into the single-family rental business, is making a new investment in suburban houses at a time when the COVID-19 pandemic is pressuring traditional commercial real estate.

Refinancing has been one of the bright spots in a difficult year for lending, and the industry has concerns that a fee to be imposed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could slow down the business.

Most are still operating in an analog world and are losing existing clients to the competition.

The new reality for investors and originators accounts for forbearances and ability-to-repay.

Orange County, Calif., home buying rebounded last month to levels above 2019, a buying surge that pushed the median sales price to its sixth record high of 2020.

The number of new housing permits issued in Connecticut communities in July rose 10.2% over the same period in 2019, officials with the state Department of Economic and Community Development said.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Aug. 28.

Pending home sales rose in July by more than forecast to the highest level since 2005, signaling the housing market’s sharp recovery will continue with borrowing costs to stay low for the foreseeable future.

Many mortgage companies are hoping to operate remotely through year-end and are asking regulators for relief to that end.

Mortgage rates decreased by 8 basis points this week, remaining near record lows, while a strong purchase market should continue into the fall, according to Freddie Mac.