Economy

With spring homebuying in bloom, the second quarter brought profits to independent mortgage bankers after going negative for the second time ever, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

A heavily challenged ballot measure in a Denver suburb that aims to place strict limits on new residential construction got a breath of a life from a judge this week, but not in time for it to be placed on the Nov. 6 ballot.

A 75-year-old Florida real estate developer was sentenced to six months in prison after admitting he lied to banks to keep money flowing so he wasn't forced to scuttle an oceanfront hotel and condominium in Vero Beach.

Contracts to buy previously owned U.S. homes unexpectedly declined in July, signaling that buyers are balking at higher prices and a lack of choices in some regions, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Sales of single-family homes in Maine showed strong gains in both their prices and the number sold in July, according to data by Maine Listings.

The Congressional Budget Office has found that restructuring the mortgage market would save the government billions of dollars but may increase the cost of housing.

Seattle is building housing like never before, while housing growth has slowed significantly in the suburbs.

Intensifying margin pressure could spur another wave of cost-cutting at nonbank mortgage lenders, unless other strategies, like consolidation or a mortgage servicing book that could increase in value, offset it.

Almost $50 billion. That's how much Spokane County, Wash., is worth, according to this year's property assessments, up $4.1 billion over last year.

Colorado Springs home prices rose at one of the fastest clips in the nation during the second quarter, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Tech-focused startups are knocking on the door of a $15 billion industry that's dominated by just four companies: Title insurance.

After four straight months in which four out of 10 home buyers in Santa Cruz County, Calif., paid in excess of $1 million, more buyers in July closed deals in the less expensive areas of the county and the median price dipped from $927,500 to $885,000.

The agency said the market for larger rental investors may not need additional liquidity from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Mortgages originated to finance apartments and other income-producing properties managed to generate an overall year-to-year increase in the first half, even though there are declines in some parts of the market.

The market for vacation homes at Hawaii resorts rebounded last year to its highest level of sales in nearly a decade, according to a recent report.

While home sales are down across New York City during the second quarter of 2018, Staten Island is bucking this trend with an uptick in both sales and prices.

Computershare Loan Services has agreed to acquire a loan fulfillment and secondary marketing unit owned by LenderLive Holdings in order to broaden its services along the full mortgage lifecycle.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development took the very rare step of filing a secretary-initiated fair housing complaint — only three were made in the last two fiscal years — against Facebook.

A number of banks have stepped up efforts to lend to residential developers, though they are mindful of missteps made before the financial crisis.

New investor appetite for mortgages over $1 million is motivating more nonbank lenders to offer super jumbo loans, often with weaker credit terms than traditional banks.