Economy

While mortgage assumptions are on the rise, so too are complaints leveled against mortgage servicers for how they handle the loans. A common refrain is that the companies are moving too slowly.

U.S. consumer prices picked up in November, reinforcing the Federal Reserve's resolve to keep interest rates elevated in the near term.

The Treasury Department's Community Development Financial Institutions Fund has introduced significant updates to the CDFI certification application, aiming to simplify the process and establish clearer standards for responsible lending and community development.

While home lending employment fell, a stronger-than-expected report on the broader labor market immediately raised concerns about the potential for higher interest rates.

Household net worth decreased $1.3 trillion, or 0.9%, in the third quarter to almost $151 trillion, a Federal Reserve report showed Thursday.

Recent economic data pushed investors toward Treasurys over the past week, driving 10-year yields to as low as 4.1%.

Treasuries resumed their rally on Tuesday as further labor-market slowdown reinforced speculation the Federal Reserve will be able to cut interest rates next year to prevent a recession.

While Fitch and CoreLogic predict home prices will rise next year, Redfin is forecasting a 1% drop in the second and third quarters.

Spending on furniture and related items fell nearly 12% from the year-earlier period in October.

The 30-year average declined for the fifth consecutive week, as purchase demand picking up at the same time, according to Freddie Mac.

The Federal Reserve's vice chair for supervision said new definitions around community development activities and the ability for banks to invest outside their immediate assessment areas could be a boon to Native Americans and their communities.

Stress tests suggest systemically important depositories could weather current risks. Meanwhile, single-family arrears remain low, but that business could be impacted.

In Canada and the U.K., borrowers can take mortgages with them from home to home. Some say this feature could unlock the U.S. housing market, but others say it would be more trouble than it's worth.

Even if the 30-year fixed were to slip further to 6.4%, it is not enough to end the seller's strike, economists said.

While the government-sponsored enterprise cut its origination forecast for this year, the Mortgage Bankers Association's updated forecast was unchanged from its October prediction.

A complicating factor is that many consumers do not understand how their real estate agent – on either the buy- or sell-side – actually gets paid, Clever Real Estate found.

In her first remarks since the release of a sweeping report on the banks, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Sandra Thompson urges them to strengthen underwriting and communication with their members' regulators.

Residential starts increased 1.9% last month to a 1.37 million annualized rate, the highest in three months, government data showed Friday.

The market's reaction to the Consumer Price Index report on Tuesday helped to push the 10-year Treasury and 30-year fixed-rate loan lower, Freddie Mac said.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo gauge decreased six points to 34 this month, according to data out Thursday.