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Housing Headlines

Housing Headlines

ECONOMY


Investor's Business Daily
Where are America's most stable housing markets?

Although the future of the U.S. housing market looks a bit shaky after pending home sales dropped in May, just-released figures on the market's overall stability indicate that it's been moving toward increasingly firmer ground.


Forbes
Housing forecast: What to expect in the second half of 2016

Where have all the houses gone? That's the question economists and, more importantly, would-be homebuyers are asking themselves. Demand is healthy and home values are rising. Owning a home remains a better deal than renting one and mortgage rates are near record lows, meaning borrowing money to buy is cheap. Nevertheless, inventory is scarce and falling.


The Wall Street Journal
Foreign interest in U.S. homes cools

Miami condo developers, California real-estate agents and others in the housing industry have hoped recent turmoil in the global economy would boost foreign interest in U.S. homes. New figures suggest the opposite is happening.

 

USA Today
30-year mortgage rates approach all-time lows

Mortgage rates tumbled in the past two weeks, approaching all-time lows as the United Kingdom's vote to leave the European Union drove down Treasury yields.

 

The Wall Street Journal
Apartment rents rise 4% in second quarter

Increases in apartment rents slowed this spring, typically the period when landlords drive the hardest bargains, suggesting the once-booming market is beginning to cool. (Subscription may be required.)

 

MarketWatch
Mortgage rates hit fresh lows as Brexit ripples through markets

Home loan rates hit new lows for the year as the United Kingdom's surprise decision to exit the European Union sent investors racing for safe assets, mortgage giant Freddie Mac said Thursday.

 

The Wall Street Journal
Jumbo mortgages play larger role at U.S. banks

The jumbo mortgage business keeps getting bigger for banks. These high-dollar home loans rose to 24% of mortgage approvals at six of the largest U.S. banks in 2015 from 21% the year before, according to an analysis of federal home-loan data. These mortgages to the affluent, typically worth more than $417,000, have become increasingly popular among big banks in the wake of the mortgage crisis.


The Washington Post
Fed held its fire over concern about weak jobs report and Brexit vote

International economic uncertainty and a "surprisingly weak" May employment report helped persuade the Federal Reserve to hold back on plans to raise interest rates, according to notes of the central bank's June meeting released Wednesday.


HRAs


Reno Gazette-Journal
One View: Health care act would benefit small businesses

The U.S. House of Representatives recently took an important step forward to enable small business owners to help their employees with rising health care costs and to ensure more Americans receive affordable health coverage.

 

The News Journal
A big step forward for small business owners

The U.S. House of Representatives recently took an important step forward to enable small business owners to help their employees with rising health care costs and to ensure more Americans receive affordable health coverage.

 

GSEs


HousingWire
FHFA: Fannie, Freddie single securitization coming in 2018?

The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Thursday that it is making progress on the implementation of the single securitization platform to be issued by both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and, for the first time, provided a look at just when the common security will become a reality.


ZONING


The New York Times
How anti-growth sentiment, reflected in zoning laws, thwarts equality

The small city of Boulder, home to the University of Colorado's flagship campus, has a booming local economy and a pleasantly compact downtown with mountain views. Not surprisingly, a lot of people want to move here.