Economy

Home equity lines of credit dried up during the housing collapse, but the emergency cash is making a comeback.

North Texas real estate agents sold a record number of houses in 2014, with a year-end surge in home purchases and construction was prompted by lower mortgage rates and economic expansion in Dallas-Fort Worth, housing analysts say.

A recently launched program in New York state is helping distressed borrowers avoid foreclosure.

Mortgages for Gulf War veterans have more than tripled since 2008, which along with a spirited outreach program and the post-crisis credit squeeze, has helped fuel a steady increase in Department of Veterans Affairs lending.

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Apartment financing markets began the year on solid footing, according to a recent survey from the National Multifamily Housing Council.

Mortgage-focused real estate investment trusts, including those affiliated with Western Asset Management and Pine River Capital Management, are backing loans to Americans who don't meet banks' requirements.

Commercial mortgage-backed security performance could come under further strain this year, as the underwriting on the underlying commercial mortgages continues to loosen. Here are eight indicators to consider in sizing up the CMBS market this year.

Ares Management LP won a $700 million commitment to invest in U.S. commercial real estate for a life insurance client.

Facing the prospect of losing its license in California, Ocwen would be wise to settle its probe by state regulators in a timely manner, observers said. If it doesn't, the mortgage servicer could lose significant revenue and might even face a cash crunch.

Lennar Corp., the biggest U.S. homebuilder by market value, said fiscal fourth-quarter earnings climbed about 50% as it sold more houses at higher prices.

While put-backs and litigation risk are widely recognized as factors that have contributed to tight credit conditions, another factor — high servicing costs for nonperforming loans — is being overlooked.

Mortgage rates fell for a second week, holding at the lowest level in more than a year and a half, as declining financing costs boost loan demand.

A federal agency's plan to tighten membership rules for Federal Home Loan banks would hurt community banks and credit unions — and could endanger the financial system, according to a broad array of stakeholders, including state regulators, lawmakers and institutions.

Government-backed U.S. mortgage bonds are off to their worst start relative to Treasuries since at least 1997 as investors in the $5.5 trillion market brace for a surge in homeowner refinancing.

Wells Fargo saw more of its origination volume come from refinancings, while JPMorgan Chase continues to rebuild its correspondent channel, the banks said in their fourth-quarter results.

Take one day to commit to finishing each and every item on your to do list, instead of just rolling things over to the next day.

Two Harbors' first residential mortgage securitization of the year doesn't exactly break any new ground.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have boosted risk-sharing transactions in the past year by more than fourfold, according to Fitch Ratings.

The unpaid principal balance of delinquent commercial mortgage-backed securities delinquencies fell by 23% as of Dec. 31 compared with the same day one year prior in 2013, according to Fitch Ratings.