Appraisals

New York's Real estate agents, home inspectors and residential appraisers are now considered "essential employees," according to the Empire State Development agency.

Finance of America Reverse agreed to pay $2.5 million to settle allegations that a company it acquired violated the False Claims Act for loans submitted for Federal Housing Administration insurance in 2010.

Consumer needs are in flux and Top Producers were looking at technology and risks associated with unexpected financial challenges as areas where they weren't yet meeting those needs. The coronavirus only intensified the urgency.

As social distancing related to the coronavirus complicates work for appraisers, real estate agents and construction lenders, professionals turn to technology and, in some cases, ask consumers to pitch in.

The percentage of mortgages underwater — when a mortgage exceeds value — has decreased dramatically in South Florida since the Great Recession, meaning the region may be better prepared to weather COVID-19 than the downturn a decade ago.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency authorized the government-sponsored enterprises to lend additional support to the mortgage-backed securities market and temporarily allow some flexibility in lending requirements to address coronavirus-related concerns.

Refinancing activity is surging, existing borrowers are inquiring about loan modifications, loan closings are being delayed by more complex credit checks — and banks are short on people to handle it all.

Mortgage industry technology providers are adjusting their processes to allow for originations to keep flowing through the system as the nation combats the coronavirus.

The Federal Housing Administration is making coronavirus adjustments while warning of possible delays as the industry anticipates a new wave of borrowing due to the Federal Reserve's latest short-term rate cut.

Home price gains continued during the fourth quarter and pushed the share of upside-down mortgages to the lowest level since the housing crisis, according to CoreLogic.