Real Estate News 2.25.14

Home prices rose 11.3% in 2013
“U.S. home prices rebounded strongly in 2013, up 11.3% compared with a year earlier, according to a closely watched index.”

‘Window closing’ for housing-reform bill this year, mortgage bankers group chief says
“Time is running short for a housing-reform bill this year, the head of the Mortgage Bankers Association said Monday, adding the Senate only has about a month to act on legislation.”

SunTrust says could face “substantial penalties” in mortgage probe
“Feb 25 (Reuters) – SunTrust Banks Inc said it may attract “substantial penalties” from on an ongoing mortgage-related probe and also disclosed a new investigation by the Department of Justice, according to a regulatory filing late Monday.”

Sub-prise! Mortgages get looser despite tighter regulations
“Concerns that potential mortgage borrowers would be pushed out of the housing market due to new lending regulations and standards are unfounded, according to the latest housing risk briefing from the American Enterprise Institute’s International Center on Housing Risk.”

Investors Hoping Fed’s Punch Bowl Will Stay Longer: BofA
“Bank of America Merrill Lynch has an alternate explanation for today’s stock-market climb back to record highs: hopes of more easy money.”

Community banks drowning in regulations
“Community bank officials are struggling to keep up with mounds of government regulations that went into effect last year and will continue to affect business through 2014 and beyond.”

Americans Still Angry at Banks But Not Likely to Switch: Survey
“Even though nearly eight in 10 Americans feel the nation’s big banks are to blame for the financial crisis of 2008, most would not switch to a credit union or community bank.”

Yellen Seeking New Low-Rate Guidance Can Use Forecasts
“As Janet Yellen seeks to forge a consensus on a new strategy for communicating the Federal Reserve’s intention to keep rates low, she can reach for a six-year-old tool: the Fed’s quarterly forecasts.”

Realogy Holdings closes 2013 with strong earnings
“Realogy Holdings (RLGY), a provider of real estate services based in Madison, N.J., recorded net revenue for the full year 2013 increase 13%, to $5.3 billion, compared to 2012, and a basic earnings per share of $3.01 for the full year.’

You won’t believe what Fannie, Freddie are doing to sell REO
“Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are offering limited-time incentives in a pair of programs for both real estate agents and homebuyers as the two government-sponsored enterprises are trying to sell some of their REO properties.’

Stonegate Mortgage originations increase 152%
“Stonegate Mortgage Corporation (SGM) recorded a successful fourth quarter and full year due to several strategic acquisitions that helped boost and round out the company’s profit.”

Here are 6 threats to Fifth Third’s mortgage banking operations
“At Fifth Third (FITB), mortgage banking net revenue decreased $145 million for the year ended December 31, 2013, compared to the prior year.”

Why are there more buyers but fewer sales in Phoenix?
“The latest issue of The Wilcox Report to clients shows that there are four reasons the pool of buyers in the Greater Phoenix area is growing, and yet at the same time there are three reasons there has been a slowdown in home sales.”

Prospect Mortgage refunds California homeowners
“Prospect Mortgage reached an agreement with the California Department of Business Oversight, which included refunds to more than 12,000 Californians totaling approximately $1.33 million.”

3 Secrets to Investing in Real Estate
“First, let me tell you a small secret of my own. I expected to write this article in no time flat, highlighting an international real estate investment trust that I’ve owned for many years. I was wrong.”

Freddie Mac Issues Monthly Volume Summary for January 2014
“MCLEAN, VA–(Marketwired – Feb 25, 2014) – Freddie Mac (OTCQB: FMCC) today issued the company’s Monthly Volume Summary for January 2014.”

Today’s Real Estate News 11.5.2013

Banks offering mortgages with only 5% down payments
“Good news for homebuyers who don’t have a lot of cash on hand: Banks are offering loans with down payments of just 5%.”

Why the jobs picture is brighter than you think
“FORTUNE — As the U.S. unemployment rate falls, skepticism grows about any real improvements in the job market.”

Bahrain’s Investcorp buys $250 mln worth of U.S. real estate assets
“Nov 5 (Reuters) – Bahrain-based Investcorp said on Tuesday that it has acquired a group of offices and retail properties in the United States for $250 million.”

UPDATE 1-U.S. homeownership rate holds near 18-year lows
“Nov 5 (Reuters) – Homeownership in the United States held near 18-year lows in the third quarter, suggesting the housing market was still struggling to overcome challenges brought on by the recession.”

Deals of the day- Mergers and acquisitions
“Nov 5 (Reuters) – The following bids, mergers, acquisitions and disposals were reported by 1100 GMT on Tuesday.”

Eminent Domain Battle Shifts to Another California City
“Sorohan, Mike–Nov. 5, 2013
Popping up like a Hydra, the latest battle over use of eminent domain to seize underwater mortgages has shifted to Pomona, Calif., a city of 150,000 residents outside Los Angeles.”

Few Banks Easing Mortgage Standards in Response to Higher Rates, Fed Says
“Most U.S. banks have maintained their existing lending standards on residential loans in recent months despite rising interest rates and softer demand for mortgages, a Federal Reserve survey found.”

Mortgage originations could fall 32 percent next year
“Mortgage originations in the U.S. could fall 32 percent next year from 2013 levels, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.”

How Bank-Defeated ‘Plain-Vanilla’ Requirements Live On
“Before there was much talk about “qualified mortgages,” “living wills” and the “Volcker Rule,” the two words that perhaps scared bankers the most were ‘plain vanilla.'”

Fed in no rush to cut bond buys, top policymakers say
“(Reuters) – The Federal Reserve should scale back its asset purchases only when the U.S. economy shows clearer signs of improvement and even then it should act slowly, one senior central banker said on Monday, while two others stressed there is no need to rush.”

Morgan Stanley Says AIG May Sue Over Mortgage-Linked Investments
“Morgan Stanley (MS), the sixth-largest U.S. bank by assets, said it may be sued by American International Group Inc. (AIG) over mortgage-backed securities that the insurer purchased before the financial crisis.”

National vacancy rate edges up 8.3% in 3Q
“National vacancy rates in the third quarter 2013 hit 8.3% for rental housing and 1.9% for homeowner housing, the Department of Commerce’s Census Bureau announced.”

Ally’s Net Income Declines 76% as Mortgage Costs Linger
“Ally Financial Inc. (ALLY), the auto finance firm majority-owned by U.S. taxpayers, said third-quarter profit fell 76 percent as the company settled U.S. claims for soured mortgages and stopped making new home loans.”

Will We Face A Mortgage Shortage In 2014?
“People assume that mortgages will always be available but what if that’s wrong? Could  there be a mortgage shortage in the near future, a time when financing shelves  are bare?”

Pennsylvania Housing Affordable
“Editor’s Note: In the October 2013 issue of the Foreclosure News Report, we asked Brian A. Hudson, the Executive Director and CEO of the Pennsylvania Housing Finance  Agency, to pen a “My Take” column and bring us up to speed on what the state is  doing to foster affordable housing. Here’s a short excerpt from Hudson’s  column.”

Analysts Say Double-Digit Appreciation Will Come to an End by 2014
“National home prices were up 10.1 percent year-over-year in the second quarter, but price appreciation is expected to fall out of the double-digits, reaching 5.4 percent by the beginning of next year, according to the CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Indexes.”

Despite Bankruptcy, Detroit’s Housing Market Thrives
“The city that previously made national headlines for its failing economy and bankruptcy filing is now in the spotlight for its rapidly rebounding housing market. Detroit topped two lists of highest-performing housing markets in the past week—one from Realtor.com and one from Clear Capital.”

Activity from Homebuyers Picks Up in Aftermath of Shutdown
“Homebuyers shook off their fears and returned to the market in force following the re-opening of the government in October, according to data presented by Redfin’s Research Center.”

Today’s Real Estate News 10.29.2013

Summary:

Today, DS News reports about how much real estate us investors have purchased since 2011. Realtytrac shares the opinions on leading brokers regarding the QRM proposal and how the foreclosure rate has been increasing in New York City and Long Island since Hurricane Sandy. According to CNN  Money, home prices are still increasing. Realtor.org shows their approval in delaying flood insurance increases. The MBAA’s president & CEO stresses a housing policy balance.  According to the Housing Wire, Hensarling is pointing the finger at Dodd-Frank for the mortgage market’s “volatility,” the Special Inspector General for TARP outlines the failures of the “Hardest Hit Fund,” the underdogs of mortgage servicing are forecasted to rule the mortgage market according to mortgage servicing experts, mortgage originations are most likely to decrease and the FHFA states that mortgage rates are to continue to climb. Bloomberg reports that consumer confidence has decreased the most since August 2011 and BofA could be forced to pay somewhere between $5-8 BILLION to settle federal claims while it’s Countrywide unit and investors in mortgage-backed securities are expected to ask a federal judge to overrule FDIC’s objections and settle for $500 Million.

Investors’ Home Purchases Total $1 Trillion Since 2011
“Since 2011, investors have purchased more than 950,000 homes; and with 370,000 purchases so far this year, they have already surpassed the number of purchases they made in either of the past two years, according to a new report from RealtyTrac.”

Leading Brokers Weigh in on Impact of New QRM Proposal, Reveling Concerns Over Mortgage Rules Taking Effect in 2014
“RealtyTrac® (www.realtytrac.com), the leading online marketplace for comprehensive housing and real estate data, today released opinions from five leading real estate brokers across the country on the impact to the real estate market and mortgage industry posed by the newly proposed Qualified Residential Mortgage (QRM) rules set to take effect in January as a result of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act signed into law in 2010.”

New York City and Long Island Foreclosures Continue to Increase a Year After Hurricane Sandy Hit
“One year after Hurricane Sandy made landfall on the U.S. eastern seaboard, RealtyTrac® (www.realtytrac.com), the nation’s leading source for comprehensive housing data, today reported that foreclosure activity in the first nine months of 2013 is up 33 percent compared to the first nine months of 2012 in the 7-county region including the five boroughs of New York and Long Island.”

Home prices continue to climb
“Home prices posted the largest annual gain since housing bubble days in August, although the month-over-month gain slowed for the fourth straight month.”

Realtors® Applaud Bipartisan Legislation to Delay Flood Insurance Rate Increases
“The following is a statement by National Association of Realtors® President Gary Thomas:

“The bipartisan ‘Homeowner Flood Insurance Affordability Act’ introduced today in the Senate by Sens. Robert Mendendez, D-N.J.; Johnny Isakson, R-Ga.; and Mary Landrieu, D-La., and in the House by Reps. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., and Maxine Waters, D-Calif., will help millions of homeowners who are facing sudden and extreme increases in flood insurance premiums, which are an unintended consequence of legislation to reform the National Flood Insurance Program.”

Stevens Calls for a Constructive Balance in Housing Policy
“Washington, DC (October 28, 2013) — David H. Stevens, President & CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today delivered the following remarks at the association’s 100th Annual Convention and Expo in Washington, DC.”

Hensarling blames Dodd-Frank for mortgage market volatility
“Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-TX, received thousands of cheers from attendees during the Mortgage Banker’s Association 100th Annual Convention and Expo Tuesday as he painted the Dodd-Frank Act as the real threat to mortgage finance reform.”

SIGTARP details Hardest Hit Fund failures
“The Hardest Hit Fund, which was launched by the Treasury to help families in areas stricken by the housing bust, fell short of its stated goals, the Special Inspector General for the Troubled Asset Relief Program (SIGTARP) warns.”

Smaller competitors may dominate servicing in the near future
“Mortgage servicing experts foresee a future market dominated by specialists such as Ocwen Financial (OCN) and Nationstar Mortgage Holdings (NSM), while big, traditional banks head for the hills when it comes to servicing to escape litigation and costs.”

Mortgage originations expected to fall 32% in 2014
“Mortgage originations are estimated to reach a total value of $1.2 trillion in 2014, a 32% drop from 2013 levels, the Mortgage Bankers Association said Tuesday.”

FHFA: Mortgage rates continue to climb
“Mortgage interest rates continued their upward climb, with contract mortgage interest rates increasing 0.11% from August to September, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s index of new mortgage contracts.”

Consumer Confidence in U.S. Slumps by Most Since August 2011
“Confidence among U.S. consumers declined in October by the most since August 2011 as the budget impasse and debt-ceiling negotiations in Washington took a toll on outlooks.”

BofA Accord With FHFA Could Cost $8 Billion, Fitch Says
“Bank of America Corp., the second-biggest U.S. lender, may have to pay $5 billion to $8 billion to settle federal claims tied to faulty mortgages after a rival lender’s deal set “a relatively high bar,” Fitch Ratings said.”

Countrywide, Investors Seek Approval of $500 Million Pact
“Bank of America Corp.’s Countrywide unit and investors in its devalued residential mortgage-backed securities will ask a federal judge to overrule objections from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and approve a $500 million class-action settlement.”