Technology

The Mortgage Industry Standards Maintenance Organization will release two residential mortgage data standard updates in November 2014 and July 2015.

Consumer credit default rates continued declining to historical lows in July.

Housing starts surged in July to the highest level in eight months, underscoring the recent pickup in builder optimism as the residential real estate market gains some traction.

Second-quarter data show housing activity has lost momentum and may experience only minor improvements in the second half of the year, according to a Fannie Mae's Economic & Strategic Research Group.

Confidence among homebuilders rose in August to the highest level in seven months, showing the industry is making more headway after weakness earlier this year.

Foreclosure rates continued their steady, three-year decline in June, according to a report Thursday from CoreLogic.

In about six years, by 2020, one out of three adult Americans will be a Millennial. By 2025, they will make up about 75% of the workforce.

Mortgage applications to purchase new homes increased 2% in July than the month before, according to Mortgage Bankers Association data.

Already beset by stagnant wages, growing student debt and competition from investors who are snapping up listings, those looking to purchase moderately priced houses must also provide more cash up front.

Several institutions said their underwriters already exclude paid and unpaid medical debt from their calculation, raising questions about what kind of impact the new model will have on lenders.