News

Household net worth jumped by $3 trillion in the first quarter as real estate values grew $836 billion, the Federal Reserve reported Thursday in its quarterly Flow of Funds report. With a drop in mortgage debt, owners' equity in real estate increased a sharp 2.5 percentage points to its highest level since 2007. Owners' equity as a percentage of real estate value has been on a steady upward trajectory since dropping to 36.3 percent in the first quarter of 2009.

National foreclosure inventory fell to 3.2 percent in April, its lowest level in four years, according to Lender Processing Services' Mortgage Monitor report. The report also revealed a hike in foreclosure sales in judicial states, which stimulated the decline in the national foreclosure inventory. Foreclosure sales in judicial states jumped 17 percent over the month of April and reached their highest level since 2010 when foreclosure moratoria and process reviews brought the foreclosure process to a near halt across the nation, LPS stated.

First-time claims for unemployment insurance fell back to 346,000 for the holiday-shortened week ending June 1, dropping 11,000 after increasing 13,000 one week earlier, the Labor Department reported Thursday.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau released updated procedures for examinations of financial institutions and mortgage lenders, which will begin taking place in January of next year. The new procedures, which will be published in the manuals for the Truth in Lending Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, cover a range of topics, including compensation for loan originators, qualification standards for mortgage professionals, consumer rights, arbitration, and appraisals.

A House panel is investigating what it believes is an attempt by Federal Housing Administration (FHA) officials to cover up the full details of the agency's financial troubles regarding its Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund. The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee reviewed emails between FHA and IFE Inc., the firm that conducted the agency's actuarial report last year.

A recent industry survey found rising home prices are impacting investor activity in a few ways--most notably encouraging them to hold properties longer and to decrease their purchase activity. The survey, conducted by ORC International, revealed more than half of investors plan to keep their investment properties for five years or more. Investors in these categories ""realize the benefits of rising rents and low vacancy rates,"" according to Chris Clothier, a partner at MemphisInvest.com and Premier Property Management Group.

RoundPoint Mortgage Servicing Corporation announced the adoption of a Fannie Mae tool designed to help servicers work faster when assisting borrowers with foreclosure prevent efforts.

When it comes to homeownership, the three largest ethnic groups in the nation share similar visions and attitudes, according to a survey from Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate. The survey included three groups--Caucasians, African-Americans, and Hispanics--with 400 respondents represented for each group. When asked about location, the majority of respondents from each group showed a preference for suburbs, with 59 percent of African Americans in this category, 55 percent of Caucasians, and 50 percent of Hispanic Americans.

The nation's economy grew at a ""modest to moderate pace"" from early April through the end of May, the Federal Reserve said Wednesday in its periodic Beige Book. From late February through early April, the last Beige Book released described economic growth simply as ""moderate."" The sole bright spot in Wednesday's report was in the Dallas Federal Reserve District, which had ""strong economic growth."" The Beige Book reported slowdowns as a result of federal budget sequestration, which forced a mandatory cutback in spending.

In an effort to speed up the short sale process, Fannie Mae is increasing early communication with real estate agents by asking listing agents to register accepted short sale offers with the GSE. By registering offers, Fannie Mae says there will be greater transparency in the process and it will also allow the GSE to be more proactive when working with servicers to complete short sales. Through Fannie Mae's site Homepathforshortsales.com agents can register their short sale offers.