Economy

Doug Duncan joined Fannie Mae in 2008 after holding the chief economist position at the Mortgage Bankers Association for almost 16 years.

Melody Taylor, the executive director of the Property Appraisal and Valuation Equity task force, said the interagency group went above and beyond expectations. She also defended it against common attacks from working appraisers.

The Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation held steady at 2.6% for the third month in a row, a positive reading that increases the odds of a September rate cut.

Recent rate movements have failed to result in significant purchase growth, but refinances are providing lenders some lift.

The 30-year fixed rate mortgage is lingering just shy of 6.5% level, which is not low enough to bring home purchasers back into the market, observers said.

The possibility of moving stalled housing bills forward combined with promises of down payment assistance is offering hope to housing advocates.

The changes laid out in the agreement are technical, revolving around paperwork consumers complete at the beginning of the buying or selling process, and they add new wrinkles to an already complicated undertaking.

Vice President Kamala Harris outlined a raft of populist economic proposals in her first major economic speech since securing the Democratic presidential nomination, including some aimed at lowering housing costs and boosting supply.

A sizable decline in the South may have reflected the impact of Hurricane Beryl.

While the total dollar volume of apartment originations fell last year, the number of companies making loans increased from 2022, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.