Housing

The number of mortgage originations dropped 31% to 6 million in 2014 due largely to a decline in refinancing as interest rates increased, according to a report issued Tuesday by the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council.

Home prices increased more than estimated in July as the job market improved and buyers competed for a tight supply of properties.

Lennar Corp., the second-largest U.S. homebuilder, reported fiscal third-quarter earnings that beat analysts' estimates as demand for new homes strengthens.

The half a percentage point reduction in the Federal Housing Administration mortgage insurance premium provided a bigger pop to the housing market than expected, according to Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics.

Hispanic women are taking charge when it comes to purchasing a home, according to a Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate and National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals report.

Sales of previously owned homes fell more than forecast in August as lean inventories slowed this year's momentum.

Starwood Waypoint Residential Trust and Colony American Homes, two of the largest U.S. single-family home landlords, said they will merge in an all-share deal that creates a company with $7.7 billion in assets.

The housing market came out of August ahead, despite the month's typical slowdown as the summer home-buying season draws to a close, according to reports from Redfin and Remax.