Market Studies

RealtyTrac released its U.S. Foreclosure Market Report for January, 2014. The report noted an 8 percent increase of reported properties from the previous month, citing 124,419 properties in foreclosure filings (default notices, scheduled auctions, and bank repossessions). Year-to-year, January, 2014 represented an 18 percent drop from January, 2013.

2014 revenue growth for U.S. title insurers is likely to be constrained, said Fitch Ratings in a press release Wednesday. Fitch cites rising interest rates and Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) participation as a limiting factor for title insurers, who have experienced steady revenue growth and improving profit margins over the last two years.

A majority of experts surveyed by Zillow and Pulsenomics expect large-scale investors will pull out of the housing market in the next few years—and that hopefully means a smoother field for consumer buyers. “Buyers entering the market in the next few months will not be competing with cash-rich investors like they were last year," said Zillow chief economist Dr. Stan Humphries.

With many older Americans feeling confident as their net worth rises with their home values, younger Americans who do not yet own a home find themselves in a very different situation, according to BBVA. "[Y]oung families will need to see faster income growth and save additional money to make a larger down payment," said economist Jason Frederick.

TransUnion announced Wednesday that last quarter's mortgage delinquency rate dropped below 4 percent for the first time since 2008. The rate represents borrowers who are 60 days or more delinquent on their mortgage. The Q4 2013 rate of 3.85 percent is a 24.2 percent year-over-year change from the Q4 2012 rate of 5.08 percent.

San Francisco remains one of the most expensive housing markets in the United States, according to data released by the San Francisco Association of REALTORS (SFAR) on Tuesday. San Francisco is representative of a nationwide trend of home prices—too few single-family homes are driving up housing prices of available homes.

Zillow Mortgage Marketplace, operated by the online real estate database Zillow, released its weekly mortgage rates Tuesday. Zillow reports that 30-year fixed mortgage rates rose slightly to 4.14 percent, reversing the previous week’s decline from 4.09 percent at this time last week. The 30-year fixed rate mortgage rose early last week before leveling off near 4.13 percent on Friday.

New housing data released by Florida Realtors shows a positive 2013 for closed and pending sales. The closed sales for existing single-family homes totaled 227,411, up 11.8 percent from 2012. Pending sales figures were also positive, up 17.6 percent compared to 2012.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) released their latest quarterly report Tuesday, highlighting upwards trends in existing family home prices. An additional annual affordability report showed less favorable conditions for home affordability.

Tom Showalter, Chief Analytics Officer of Digital Risk, joins the broadcast to discuss QM and origination defect requirements and potential impact. As Chief Analytics Officer, Tom is responsible for the data, analytics and “decisioning” systems in use and under development. Click ...