Market Studies

A recent study conducted by Trulia shows that while Democratic- and Republican-leaning U.S. markets were affected similarly by the housing crisis, the most pressing current issues of the housing industry seem to be more severely affecting Democratic-leaning metros.

ProTeck noted a census report that revealed a $5,000 increase in median household income in 2013 in Seattle as well as a Forbes Magazine article that listed Seattle as one of the best places for business. Amazon, Costco, Boeing, Microsoft, and Nordstrom all have a presence in Seattle, making for a strong job market.

A gauge of leading economic indicators in the United States showed solid growth in September, suggesting moderate economic expansion to finish out the year.

Wingspan Portfolio Advisors, a diversified mortgage services firm headquartered in Dallas, has a new president following a multi-million dollar capital infusion from its stockholder investor group.

Domestic-based mortgage services provider LenderLive Network, Inc., has announced that Dan Biebel has joined the company as the regional account executive for the firm's correspondent lending division.

Nevada, Florida, and Illinois were the top three states in negative equity for residential properties in the third quarter of 2014, marking the fourth consecutive quarter those three states led the nation in that category, according to RealtyTrac's Home Equity & Underwater Report for Q3 2014 released Thursday.

Where the U.S. housing market is concerned, Fannie Mae chief economist Doug Duncan said he is anticipating overall weaker home sales in 2014 than in 2013. But he expects that overall home sales in 2015 will post their best performance since 2007 despite seeing only moderate growth for the year.

In Dallas, insurance claims management firm Dimont & Associates announced it is once again operating as an independent company, ending its affiliation with Wingspan Portfolio Holdings.

The steep decline in the number of marriages in the U.S. among the population aged 25 to 29 has been a key factor in the slow recovery of the housing market, according to a report from John Burns Real Estate Consulting (JBREC).

The rate of consumer credit default in the U.S. inched slightly upward in September, and the mortgage default rate also marginally increased, according to the September 2014 S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices released earlier this week.