Real estate

The multifamily construction boom may finally be coming to an end as leasing of new units has slowed and lenders are becoming more cautious.

While President-elect Donald Trump already faces numerous potential conflicts-of-interest between his businesses and the presidency, his real estate ties and campaign promises raise serious questions about his approach to the housing industry.

Foreclosure starts dropped to the lowest level recorded since January 2005, according to Black Knight Financial Services.

Home prices in 20 U.S. cities continued to climb in September, while a gauge of values nationwide exceeded the pre-recession peak, according to S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller data.

Demand for housing settled down in October after ramping up a month earlier, according to Redfin.

Income gains and low interest rates have contributed to the most affordable housing market in a quarter-century, according to First American Financial Corp.

Home prices grew by a paltry 0.1% month over month in September, though the pace of price appreciation on an annual basis remained high, according to Black Knight Financial Services.

The maximum baseline conforming loan limit in 2017 is being increased to $424,100 by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Purchases of new homes declined in October to a four-month low, showing the residential real estate market began to soften a month prior to a jump in borrowing costs.

Sales of previously owned homes unexpectedly climbed in October to the highest level since February 2007, a sign of momentum in the housing market a month before a jump in borrowing costs.

The U.S. economy is expected to continue growing modestly in 2017, but the unknown about policies to be enacted by President-elect Donald Trump's administration pose both upside and downside risks, according to Fannie Mae.

Shortage of appraisers in rural areas and compensation issue force lawyers to re-consider restrictions on communications between lenders and appraisers.

While the rate of homeowners who owed more on their home than what it is worth decreased nationwide, there were 17 neighborhoods with a large percentage of underwater homeowners.

New-home listings declined significantly in October even as increased demand continued to drive faster sales times and higher prices, according to Redfin.

New-home construction jumped to a nine-year high in October as an outsized advance in the number of apartment projects accompanied a strong pickup for single-family housing.

Confidence among homebuilders in November remained near the highest level this year, a sign of strength in the residential real estate market.

The number of mortgage applications for new home purchases increased in October, along with the average loan size, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Industry forecasts for 2017 mortgage volume assumed a continuation of current housing and economic policies under a Hillary Clinton administration. But with Donald Trump's win, analysts are sorting out what, if any, adjustments are needed to those projections.

New York Community Bancorp will not receive regulatory approval for its deal to buy Astoria Financial by the end of the year as initially planned.

Mortgage lobbyists are eager to seize on Republican victories in the House, Senate and White House races, hoping to advance the industry's aims in the next Congress.