Economy

A growing economy during the first quarter meant that the U.S. housing market as a whole moved toward buying a home versus renting, an indication of soundness, according to a quarterly report put together by professors at two Florida universities.

Cash sales are falling overall, but still represent the majority of sales involving homes in the lowest tier of property values, according to Black Knight Financial Services.

MFA Financial has carved out an impressive niche for itself by buying reperforming and nonperforming residential mortgages and securities.

There's not enough origination volume to sustain seven private mortgage insurers and the number of underwriters may need to shrink, warns MGIC CEO Patrick Sinks.

New York's State Assembly has passed legislation that seeks to address problems related to preforeclosure vacant and abandoned properties.

Increased loan production during the spring home buying season has nonbank mortgage lenders stepping up their hiring.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has reached a $190 million settlement with eight large financial institutions over residential mortgage-backed securities claims as the receiver of five banks that failed during the crisis.

The 12-member committee is expected to advise HUD on how to improve housing counseling and make it more accessible.

Mortgage rates were up slightly from last week in continued anticipation of a possible move by the Federal Reserve, but still near three-year lows, according to Freddie Mac.

Falling interest rates and a shortage of housing inventory are heating up the market for home flippers. Here's a look at the housing markets where the home flip share of property sales set new records during the first quarter.

Mortgage credit availability tightened for the third consecutive month in May, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

When the administration changes at the end of the year, the development of a single mortgage-backed security could suffer a setback, Mortgage Bankers Association CEO Dave Stevens said Wednesday.

MetLife Inc., the largest U.S. life insurer, is increasing bets on real estate as the company scales back investments in hedge funds.

Existing home sales in May are expected to fall within a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.47 million and 5.83 million, according to Ten-X.

Several civil rights and community development groups wrote Tuesday to urge the Federal Housing Finance Agency to recapitalize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency is set to make the sales of nonperforming loans by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac more transparent, including providing information on trends at the individual pool level, according to a top agency official.

Step aside, spring. Summer is becoming the new hot season for home buying, according to a Florida Atlantic University economist.

Home prices nationwide in March were just 3.8% down from their June 2006 peak, according to Black Knight Financial Services.

Home prices in 20 U.S. cities rose faster than projected in March from a year earlier, adding to signs of healthy demand at the onset of the industry's busy selling season, S&P/Case-Shiller reported Tuesday.

Craig Strent of Apex Home Loans saw potential in blending his mortgage banking services with the strategy of financial advising, finding strong partners and a niche in helping clients through one of life's most difficult transitions.