Homebuilders

Lending against single-family home construction is an area where depositories have traditionally faced little competition. That's starting to change.

It's been a dreary spring for many homebuilders in the Twin Cities.

Remodeling activity stepped up in recent years as homeowners stayed put for nearly twice as long as before the housing bubble burst, but several forecasts point to a potential slowdown on the horizon, which is a welcome sign for the mortgage business.

With strong housing demand continuing in Central Texas, new home starts increased almost 7% in the first quarter compared to the first three months of last year, according to new industry data.

Along a stretch of South Los Angeles near the Expo light rail line, investment dollars are pouring in.

Silverton Mortgage, an affiliate of Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway, has joined a small but growing group of lenders in offering a newer form of government-sponsored enterprise financing for manufactured homes.

No state is worse than Nevada when it comes to the availability of affordable homes for extremely low-income people, according to the National Low Income Housing Coalition, which advocates for affordable housing.

Sales of new homes unexpectedly rose in March, climbing to a 16-month high to cap the first quarter with a third straight increase that reflects a boost from lower borrowing costs.

Homebuilder stocks are slipping after sales of previously owned homes fell more than forecast in March and KBW cut its rating on D.R. Horton shares.

Any worries about the possibility of higher interest rates and an economic expansion that might eventually fizzle haven't been enough to soften the housing market throughout the South Bend, Ind., region.