Investments

Freddie Mac completed its first multifamily credit risk transfer transaction that used an insurance/reinsurance structure.

Manhattan home prices fell in the fourth quarter, with the median slipping to less than $1 million for the first time in three years, as ample inventory continued to allow buyers to demand sweeter deals.

Rising mortgage rates are helping decelerate home price growth, which is expected to slow further during the coming year, according to CoreLogic. Consumer uncertainty in the economy due to stock market declines may also weaken house values.

The single-family rental market could benefit from more consistent loan terms and expanded secondary mortgage market opportunities, Freddie Mac found in a preliminary test of expanded involvement in the sector.

Dividing the transaction into two tranches allowed the GSE to tailor the transaction to the risk appetite of participants, lowering the cost of reinsurance.

D.R. Horton Inc. is planning to buy Terramor Homes' building operations for $60 million in cash, expanding the potential customer base for the larger company's in-house lending unit.

Ditech Holding Corp. is proposing to pay $257,000 and improve governance to settle a stockholder lawsuit alleging that a lack of oversight allowed improprieties to occur in several mortgage-related business lines.

New Penn Financial will change its name to NewRez at the start of 2019, reflecting its acquisition earlier this year by New Residential Investment Corp.

Consolidation is coming in the mortgage industry, but a protracted timetable will continue to constrict industry profits.

Toll Brothers Inc. reported its first drop in orders since 2014, led by a big falloff in California demand, a sign that high-end property markets are cooling. Shares slumped.