Housing

Down payments increased in size in the second quarter, as competition for homes picked up this summer, according to LendingTree.

BOK Financial in Tulsa, Okla., reported higher second-quarter earnings as mortgage banking and loan growth offset an increase in expenses.

Fewer Americans signed contracts in June to buy previously owned homes, representing a pause in the housing market's momentum.

Flagstar Bank far outpaced expectations for its second-quarter results due to high loan sales and a strengthened portfolio from the subtraction of lower performing loans.

The government-sponsored enterprises are buying conforming mortgages with as little as 3% down, but the new policy can't improve the housing market by itself.

Demand for apartment rentals continued to rise in the second quarter, while the use of debt financing declined, according to the National Multifamily Housing Council.

The California Housing Finance Agency has ended its use of a U.S. Treasury liquidity program that the agency had relied on since 2009.

Home prices rise 1.1% from April to May, according to Black Knight's Home Price Index report.

Housing markets are steadily improving nationwide, according to the latest Freddie Mac's Multi-Indicator Market Index.

Demand for home purchases rose in June although more slowly than in previous months, the online real estate brokerage Redfin said. The firm also projected a slowdown in the rise of home values.

The U.S. economy was stronger than expected, according to Fannie Mae's analysis of this year's second quarter.

Purchases of new homes unexpectedly retreated in June and prior readings were revised down, painting a picture of less robust improvement during the industry's busiest time of year.

One of the biggest U.S. mortgage lenders is looking to disrupt the disruptors in the market for peer-to-peer loans.

National Penn Bancshares in Allentown, Pa., said its second-quarter profit improved as increased real estate lending offset higher expenses.

U.S. housing-finance reform may be even more remote thanks to a provision in the Senate's transportation bill that uses the mortgage giants as a source for funds, according to lawmakers and industry groups.

Zillow Group in Seattle has agreed to buy DotLoop in Cincinnati, a provider of real estate document technology.

The West Coast continued to dominate the top housing markets across the country in terms of property values, according to the most recent Home Value Forecast offered by Pro Teck Valuation Services.

Huntington Bancshares in Columbus, Ohio, reported higher quarterly in profit that reflected higher in mortgage banking fees and steady loan growth.

The Mortgage Bankers Association on Wednesday said the housing market recovery has shifted to "a higher gear," and it raised its forecasts for total originations and home purchases for this year and 2016.

Sales of previously owned U.S. homes climbed to an eight-year high in June as momentum in the residential real estate market accelerated.