Housing markets

The coronavirus pandemic has made for a rough year for a number of industries in Central Texas, but the home construction sector hasn't been one of them.

The number of bidding wars increased for the sixth consecutive month, as Salt Lake City remained the most competitive housing market, according to Redfin.

Facing a slim inventory of existing homes for sale, Denver buyers are snapping up new homes at the fastest pace in the country, a rebound so strong that it has caught local builders off guard.

The Federal Housing Administration said in its annual actuarial report that the capital reserve ratio on its mutual mortgage insurance fund increased to 6.10% in fiscal year 2020, up from 4.84% a year earlier.

With the coronavirus cutting employment or wages in 32% of households, the number of potential homebuyers could shrink and cause home price growth to hit its inflection point, analysts say.

The third quarter’s higher share of purchase applications, which followed the refinance wave that crested in the second, caused a rise in mortgage application fraud risk, according to CoreLogic.

Colder weather wasn't enough to slow down the Albuquerque, N.M., housing market, as home prices continued to increase in October.

Mortgage rates moved off of their all-time low this week as a result of reports that Pfizer's coronavirus vaccine was potentially 90% effective, according to Freddie Mac.

Median home prices rose annually in 74% of Opportunity Zones across the country in the third quarter, with 53% growing by 10% or more, according to Attom Data Solutions.

More than six months after the CARES Act became law, the two entities joined a host of industry organizations in launching the COVID Help for Home campaign to educate borrowers on the next steps in forbearance.

The overall mortgage delinquency rate improved in the third quarter as the economy got healthier while late-stage delinquencies hit a decade high, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

A number of unknowns about the election and the coronavirus response kept consumer confidence in check, according to Fannie Mae.

Problems with self-service tools and inconsistent communication have damaged consumer perception of their lender, J.D. Power said.

JPMorgan Chase is going on the “offensive” in mortgages as home prices rise across the country, said Marianne Lake, the bank’s chief executive for consumer lending.

Bay Area homebuyers shook off any lingering reservations about shopping during the coronavirus pandemic, driving median sale prices up nearly 20% in September in a tight housing market.

Growing equity levels increased the share of equity-rich and pulled borrowers out from underwater in the third quarter, according to Attom Data Solutions.

More borrowers between 21 and 40 are leveraging the historically low mortgage rates to either buy their first homes or slash their monthly payments, according to Ellie Mae.

Smaller lenders should consider positioning themselves for acquisition at a time when they can be making the most money.

The race enters a complicated phase that could impact financial markets.

Record low mortgage rates and a flurry of buyers on the hunt for home offices and more space helped boost homebuilding on the eve of the presidential election.