Coronavirus

Ohio's homeownership rate rose in the first quarter of this year to the highest level since 2011, suggesting a robust housing market and growing economic stability.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency clarified that borrowers with Fannie Mae- or Freddie Mac-backed mortgages who have entered into forbearance plans can be eligible for a refi or new purchase once they are considered “current” on their mortgage.

Home construction starts plunged in April by the most in records back to 1959, as the nationwide lockdown to control the spread of the coronavirus hammered the housing market and broader economy.

The agency has freed companies from reporting requirements and provided flexibility on exams to help them deal with COVID-19 fallout. It has also finished other regulatory relief efforts that were in the pipeline before the pandemic hit.

Total forbearance driven by the coronavirus rose by 25 basis points, which suggests it is still growing but at a slowing pace, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

With the coronavirus impact in full effect, a four-month streak of growth ended in April, according to Remax.

Pent-up demand is already pushing buyers to a gradual return to the market, the report asserts.

Ginnie Mae is offering temporary relief related to its acceptable delinquency-rate threshold in response to issuers' need to fulfill the forbearance requirements in the coronavirus rescue package.

Homebuilder sentiment rose in May by more than forecast following a record slump a month earlier as a pickup in sales and demand expectations pointed to stabilization in the real estate market.

San Antonio's housing market is slowing down amid the coronavirus pandemic, but prices are still rising.

Santa Fe County bore the brunt of home sale declines in New Mexico, with a 34% wallop in April as the novel coronavirus took a bite out of homebuyers' and sellers' appetites.

First Republic is preparing a private-label residential mortgage-backed securities transaction and could be the first bank to launch this type of deal since the coronavirus first roiled U.S. markets in mid-March.

Now is the time for mortgage servicers to prioritize customer care for the homeowners they serve.

But in the worst-case scenario, the number of forbearances could grow by 3 percentage points through the end of June.

Democrats’ latest proposal to back debt collectors, enable loans for nonprofits and provide other relief could help steer negotiations with the Senate on more stimulus.

Only 244 single-family homes were sold in Sonoma County, Calif., in April, down from 300 in March and 363 in April a year ago.

Our second monthly survey found a smooth transition to remote work and digital customer access channels — but technology issues still arose. The pandemic has highlighted the importance of having a strong digital presence across all retail sectors, including financial services.

Sales of single-family homes plunged 19% in April, ending a nine-month string of year-over-year gains as Houston-area buyers and sellers hunkered down despite real estate transactions being considered an essential part of the economy.

The upstarts enjoyed rapid growth during the long economic expansion. Now they are on the ropes.

While most work activities were halted in April to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, people continued to buy and sell real estate.