Purchase

Metro Atlanta home prices rose 6.5% during the past year, outpacing the national average and increasingly squeezing first-time home buyers.

Heading into a competitive spring housing market, optimism that now is a good time to buy hit its lowest share in two years, according to the National Association of Realtors.

Here's a look at the states where home purchasing power is improving, bucking the national trends of inventory shortages and rising prices.

Billings, Mont., is moving into spring with a strong real estate market.

The median sales price of existing single-family homes rose across the Sacramento region in February compared with the same month last year, while newly built homes accounted for a larger share of the region's residential real estate market.

Independent mortgage banks and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks saw production profits tank in the fourth quarter of 2017, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Sales of new homes fell for a third straight month and the supply swelled to the highest since 2009, suggesting that surging prices are increasingly deterring buyers.

RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing Corp. is now subservicing mortgages originated by Neighborhood Lending Services, a Chicago-based nonprofit that provides fixed-rate loans for home purchases, refinancings and renovations.

Timid sellers are making for a tepid spring for Twin Cities home sales.

First-time home buyers won't catch a break from the Dallas-area's hot home market this spring.

Closing times for refinances have fallen dramatically due to mortgage lenders' increased emphasis on home purchase loans.

Housing inventory hit positive territory for the first time since 2015, but starter home volume is at a low for recent years, according to Trulia.

The share of mortgage refinance applications dropped to its lowest level in nearly 10 years as interest rates continued to climb.

Sales of previously owned homes rose more than expected in the first gain in three months, indicating that job gains and tax cuts are supporting demand despite low supply.

Thanks to eager homebuyers, the Albuquerque metro housing market continued an upward trend last month, despite a short supply of single-family homes for sale.

Home sales took off in the Portland area last month, perhaps as buyers tried to get ahead of rising mortgage rates.

While the industry continues adopting digital mortgage methods, homebuyers expect to be able to apply for a mortgage and complete the application online, but still want human interaction, according to Ellie Mae.

Home Captain, a fintech company that looks to increase mortgage-lead conversion rates, completed a Series A financing round led by Spring Mountain Capital.

The homeownership rate in the Buffalo Niagara region dropped to its second-lowest level in 25 years in 2017, according to new data released by the Census Bureau.

A stronger than expected refinance market led Fannie Mae to increase its origination projections for the first quarter by nearly 4% in its March outlook.