Real estate

Mortgage industry groups are frustrated by the lack of progress on real estate finance reform, and that spurred one group — the National Association of Home Builders — to endorse Congressional candidates for the first time.

Shifting demographics are leading to a rise in the number of millennials and minorities, but homeownership rates among these groups remain depressed. One contributing factor is the lack of mortgage industry hiring and marketing focused on these demographics.

Bank of America's first-mortgage originations increased 23% over the third quarter of 2015, as rates remained near record lows throughout the summer.

Fitch Ratings has identified more than 1,000 properties in commercial mortgage-backed securities transactions that had exposure to Hurricane Matthew.

Regions Financial in Birmingham, Ala., has bought a business that manages low-income housing tax credits.

A leader who surrounds herself with diverse thought and talent, Nikki Groff of Wallick & Volk Mortgage Bankers, formed a team that helped propel her to Top Producer status from a small Arizona town.

Wells Fargo & Co., the lender whose chief executive officer stepped down this week amid a scandal in its branch network, posted a third-quarter profit that beat analysts' estimates as loan-loss provisions improved and revenue from mortgage banking increased.

Loan applications for new home purchases rose 3% in September over the previous year, but continued year-over-year growth could be subdued for the rest of 2016, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Foreclosure filings dropped to the lowest level reported since December 2005, signaling the end of the country's foreclosure crisis, according to Attom Data Solutions.

NeighborWorks reported Wednesday that 56% of survey respondents said that rents are too high where they live for them to be able to save enough to buy a home.

The number of completed foreclosures nationwide in August dropped 42% from a year earlier, according to CoreLogic.

It's tougher out there for New York's commercial real estate developers seeking cash for their latest projects.

It's been a tough year for farmers, and lenders are looking for ways to help those borrowers offset sagging income.

The housing industry has staunchly defended the mortgage interest tax deduction as an essential tool for promoting homeownership. But attitudes are softening, as data show the low- and moderate-income homebuyers who need the subsidy the most are getting the least benefit.

Interest rates fell in August to the lowest level recorded all year for millennials, which could mean expanded buying power for this segment, according to Ellie Mae.

Consumers were less inclined to buy a home in September, thanks to concerns about interest rates, home prices and the political environment.

San Francisco has the highest level of "mortgage stress" of the top 100 largest cities in the United States by population, according to Finder.com.

Homeowners in congressional districts controlled by Democrats nationwide have gained two times' more housing wealth than those in districts led by Republicans, according to Attom Data Solutions.

Converting millennials from renters to homeowners is proving difficult, but here are steps lenders can take to get this generation on board with buying.

There are a lot more apartments available for purchase these days in Manhattan. And fewer people are buying.