Daily Dose

Recovery in the housing market is stumbling back to solid ground, thanks to a rise in home prices and existing home sales, as well as a drop in foreclosures, according to the latest Housing Barometer report released Wednesday by Trulia.

After losing 32,000 jobs in January, nonfarm employment rebounded in February, adding 58,800 jobs in February, according to the Wells Fargo Economics Group. February's increase reflected a 2.3 percent growth over the past year, creating a net gain of 345,600 jobs.

In a press release issued by Fitch Ratings, the company comments that the past year has seen a "sea change" in who is servicing severely delinquent U.S. mortgage loans—and how they are being serviced. Fitch found that 2013 saw many portfolios of non-agency residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) mortgage servicing rights (MSR) move from banks to non-bank servicers.

Housing markets in half of all states and 35 of the top 50 metros are improving, according to a new report from Freddie Mac. However, only 11 states and four of the top 50 metros are "stable" compared to each market’s individual historical norms, Freddie Mac reported.

U.S. residential sale volume decreased in February, with distressed sales and investor purchases also pulling back for the month. RealtyTrac's February 2014 Residential & Foreclosure Sales Report found that U.S. residential properties slid .2 percent from January, but remain up 7 percent from the same time period a year ago.

Bank of America has agreed to a multibillion settlement with the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) to resolve allegations of securities fraud. According to announcements made by all parties involved, under the agreement, BofA will make an aggregate payment of approximately $9.33 billion, $3.2 billion of which will go toward the repurchase of certain RMBS at fair market value.

Data released by S&P Dow Jones Indices and Experian found that national credit default rates during the month of February declined. The S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices, a comprehensive measure of changes in consumer credit defaults, found that the national composite rate was 1.30 in February, down from 1.34 in January.

Consequences stemming from the expiration of the Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act may be surfacing, according to a perspective piece written by CoreLogic’s Kathryn Dobbyn. The piece found that throughout 2012 and into 2013, short sales had been steadily declining, partly due to rising home prices.

Although employment is being reduced, the need for certain types of talent is more critical than ever, according to Rick Glass, founder of R.T. Glass & Associates, one of the mortgage banking industry's leaders in executive search since 1993.

Speaking at the fifth annual Five Star Government Forum on Tuesday, Christopher Whalen presented on the topic, "Government's Role in Restoring a Healthy Mortgage Market." Whalen's presentation focused on the effects of government regulations on the housing industry.