Data and information management

Higher new home sales may involve discounts to entice buyers.

Small lenders have reduced their payrolls by 11,000 workers since June.

The real estate brokerage adds that when compared with 2012, the drop-off is not as severe.

These firms believe they will continue to grow their businesses.

Investors are anticipating the Federal Reserve to start its taper program soon and that impacted interest rates during a short week.

There was strong homebuyer demand in all four regions tracked in a government report, surprising many economists who had predicted a slight decline overall.

The percentage of U.S. commercial real estate loans that are 30 or more days late has dropped 268 basis points since reaching an all-time high of 10.3% in the summer of 2012.

Appreciation will slow going forward as seasonal factors come into play.

Since the fall of 2011, national property values are up 17%. But in November, quarterly growth was 1.8%, down from the previous quarter’s 3.3% uptick.

Commitments to buy new mortgages unexpectedly increased in October.

Despite existing home transactions being low and recent construction activity remaining below normal levels, all 42 counties tracked by DataQuick reported an increase in property values.

Regulatory pressure is expected to be as strong as ever next year when mortgage lenders and servicers will test new waters in compliance implementation, process improvements and business strategies. Market veterans find regulatory compliance risks are higher almost in every area of the business.

Even though home price appreciation was up 5.2% on a yearly basis, it still is a much slower pace than the 7% figure that was seen over the summer.

Refinancings comprise less than 60% of loan volume in October.

Low inventories continue to support rising home values.

Loan buybacks fall to the lowest level in 5 years with $1.8 billion in the third quarter.

The Department of Veterans Affairs guaranteed 629,300 single-family loans in FY 2013, while the Federal Housing Administration experienced a decline in purchase mortgage loans.

The combination of rapidly rising home prices along with strong demand from institutional investors and other cash buyers means short sales are becoming less favorable for lenders.

Government shutdown cited as factor in October decline.

Most U.S. adults’ opinion of homeownership has failed to waver over the past five years even though the return to a normal housing market has been slow, according to a NeighborWorks America survey.