Headlines

VRM Mortgage Services, a real estate solutions provider focused on helping financial institutions adapt and excel, announced that COO Cheryl Travis-Johnson will take part as a featured panelist on the "Breaking Thru the Iron Ceiling" panel. The panel is a part of this year's Women in Diversified Services (WinDS) Real Estate and Finance Fusion Conference in Henderson, Nevada.

A weaker-than-expected first quarter has researchers at Fannie Mae amending their forecast for growth in 2014, but they still project acceleration as the year progresses. In its Economic and Housing Outlook for April, Fannie Mae's Economic and Strategic Research Group notes economic activity slowed in Q1 even more than was forecast, partly due to a sharp decline in inventory investment as consumer spending waned.

Lenderlive Network Inc., an end-to-end mortgage services provider, announced that Claire Rhodes has joined the firm as regional account executive covering the northeast region for the company’s Correspondent Lending division. Rhodes will work with current and prospective clients, community banks, credit unions, and mortgage banks.

Delinquency and foreclosures rates have declined to levels not seen since October 2007 and 2008, respectively, according to Black Knight Financial Services "First Look" at March Mortgage Data. The company’s Data and Analytics division reported that the share of loans in foreclosure was down nearly 37 percent year-over-year.

Following weak home sales during the first two months of the year resulting from extreme winter weather, March sales picked up 24.6 percent across the 52 metros measured in the RE/MAX National Housing Report. However, despite the significant increase, March sales are 10.1 percent below their year-ago level.

According to the latest Campbell/Inside Mortgage Finance HousingPulse Tracking Survey, an estimated 26.2 percent of home purchases by current homeowners in March relied solely on cash, up from a 12-month low of 22.8 percent recorded last August. Figures are based on a three-month moving average.

According to Fitch Ratings' latest quarterly index, prepayment rates among U.S. residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) have declined to the lowest levels of the post-crisis era. Fitch Ratings' director Sean Nelson attributed the decline in prepayment rates to higher interest rates and fewer distressed liquidations.

Long & Foster Real Estate announced recently the Prein Eiermann Group has joined the company in its Greenville, Delaware, office. Joining Long & Foster as sales associates are team leaders West Prein and Marian Eiermann, as well as Rob Cardone.

Fannie Mae issued approximately $3.5 billion of multifamily mortgage-backed securities (MBS) in the first quarter of 2014, the company said in a press release Monday. The securities are backed by new multifamily loans delivered by the company's lenders.

The National Housing Trend Report for March was just released by Realtor.com, and it offers some great news for spring home buyers. The market is much healthier this year, with growth in inventory and days on the market. With modest price increases present, the overall outlook is good.