Industries

The Democratic and Republican platforms adopted at this year's party conventions take a more forward-looking approach to housing issues than they did four years ago. But they have distinctly different views on the government's role in maintaining a robust mortgage industry.

A drop in mortgage banking cut into Trustmark's second-quarter profit, as did the costs to extend buyouts to employees.

Home prices in 20 U.S. cities rose less than projected in May from a year earlier, signaling both buyers and sellers had the potential to benefit during the busy selling season.

Purchases of new single-family homes rose in June to the highest level in more than eight years, indicating a firm and resilient housing market.

EverBank Financial in Jacksonville, Fla., confirmed that it is in talks to sell itself.

Mountain states are leading the way as home prices edge closer to their 2006 peak, according to Black Knight Financial Services.

Democrats will adopt a party platform this week that omits most references to a need for continued post-housing crisis reforms, and instead focuses on expanding access to mortgage credit and support for industry regulation.

Regulators sought to limit improper contact between lenders and appraisers, but policies of the two mortgage giants encourage the kind of practices that contributed to the housing crisis.

Technology developed by SmartZip analyzes 2,000 variables about a housing market and its homeowners to help real estate agents and lenders identify consumers most likely to sell their house or need a new mortgage.

Welcome news for America's renters could be unhelpful for the Federal Reserve.

Multifamily family construction is reaching the point where some markets can't absorb the new supply of units.

Borrowing conditions in the apartment market have improved in the second quarter as property owners benefit from the low-rate environment after the Brexit vote, according to the National Multifamily Housing Council.

The official platform of the Republican Party has softened language calling for the end of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, while continuing to demand reform of the government-sponsored enterprises.

D.R. Horton Inc., the largest U.S. homebuilder, reported an increase in fiscal third-quarter earnings as a limited number of existing properties on the market helped fuel demand for new houses.

First American Corp. had a second-quarter profit of $102.1 million as the title insurer's pretax margin of 13.7% was its best ever.

Home prices rose 5.6% in May from a year earlier as buyers competed for a scarcity of listings, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said in a report.

Thanks to lower interest rates and higher job growth, the market for existing-home sales is performing very close to its potential, according to First American Financial Corp.

Sales of previously owned homes unexpectedly climbed in June to the highest level in more than nine years, giving a boost to residential real estate as it approached the end of its busy selling season.

Wintrust Financial in Rosemont, Ill., reported strong momentum from mortgage growth and acquisitions.

Property valuation firm LRES will now offer commercial evaluations as a result of its March acquisition of InsideValuation.