Origination

Starwood Capital Group missed two monthly payments on securitized debt tied to five shopping malls anchored by bankrupt department stores including Sears and J.C. Penney.

Potential sales last month rose compared with April as homes became more affordable due to low mortgage rates.

Prices have continued to rise, although the pandemic closures have slowed that down: The region's median sales price last month was $257,048, up 1.6% from May 2019, according to Georgia MLS.

Mortgage rates fell 8 basis points this week to a new low as the economy remains shaky and there are new flare ups of the coronavirus, according to Freddie Mac.

The coronavirus put a dent in May's home sales and inventory, but some indicators offer hope for a turnaround on the horizon.

The number of existing, single-family home sales that closed last month fell 51.1% compared with the same month last year and the median price dropped 2.5%, according to the California Association of Realtors.

The language most frequently spoken by LEP consumers is Spanish, followed by Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Tagalog. The Federal Housing Finance Agency's online clearinghouse translates CARES Act forbearance information into these languages.

Home construction starts rose less than forecast in May, suggesting builders were slow to resume work even as states across the country began to reopen.

Purchase mortgage application volume was at its most in over a decade as consumer confidence continued to improve in the aftermath of the coronavirus shutdown, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The report by Unison also advised investors to focus on "diversified residential real estate" over traditional retail and office spaces.