Economy

For the fifth year in a row, Quicken Loans is rated No. 1 by consumers in terms of customer satisfaction, according to a J.D. Power survey.

Republicans are unlikely to push the ball forward on reform of the federal housing agencies, but Congress has a number of other opportunities to make changes that will encourage mortgage lending.

Mortgage rates fell slightly compared to last week, according to Freddie Mac.

Community banks, on average, increased the size of their loan portfolios by 15% in the third quarter from a year earlier, though the numbers reveal a slowdown from prior periods.

Applications for new home purchases picked up in October, particularly for higher-priced properties, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Regulators are preparing rules to curb financial risks of expanding nonbank mortgage companies after investigating homeowner complaints that include improper foreclosures and unauthorized fees.

Nonbank mortgage lender loanDepot has reached an agreement to acquire Mortgage Master.

A new multifamily investment product will for the first time allow Freddie Mac to buy and guarantee bonds backed by multifamily loans that were originally underwritten by private entities.

One-third of the nation's counties now have access to e-recording software, according to the Property Records Industry Association,

Mortgage applications declined for the third consecutive week as fewer borrowers are choosing to refinance due to rising interest rates.

A renewed interest in subdivisions that stalled during the recession is likely the main reason the California Debt and Investment Advisory Commission reported doubling of refunding volume in land-secured Mello-Roos bonds from fiscal year 2011-12 to 2012-13, according to government consultant Larry Kosmont.

Home values in major metro areas across the country continued to climb in October, according to Quicken Loans.

According to Zillow's latest home price expectation survey, the millennial generation is not buying properties right now because their rents are too high.

Industry observers have mixed reactions on whether next year's Republican-controlled Congress will finally address long-stalled efforts to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Commercial mortgage-backed security delinquencies declined during October, according to Fitch Ratings.

Mortgage insurers Radian Guaranty Inc. and MGIC Investment Corp. both saw their inventory of delinquent loans drop during October.

A community revitalization program in the City of Brotherly Love is connecting potential homebuyers to financial institutions, and some credit unions are among those reaping the benefits.

Despite policy changes that apply to new reverse mortgages, the rights for existing spouses of deceased borrowers remain unclear and subject to change until HUD and litigants agree on a final policy in line with court directives.

With the right products and markets, loan officers can be better compensated even as they close fewer loans.

While the government-sponsored enterprises' move to allow down payments as low as 3% comes with some inherent risks, Fannie Mae executives are confident they can responsibly administer the new guidelines to ensure they're an effective tool for increasing access to credit.