News

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.

RealtyTrac announced Wednesday it has entered the tax, deed, and mortgage data licencing business, making it the first new entrant in the business in more than a decade.

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.

Former acting director and current senior deputy director Edward DeMarco announced his intent to part ways with the Federal Housing Finance Agency at the end of April. After serving the agency for nearly six years, Demarco confirmed his plans to depart in a letter to current agency director Mel Watt.

January, 2014 experienced an increase in house prices, which rose by .5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous month. According to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI), for the year beginning January, 2013 to January 2014, the HPI increased by 7.4 percent. Prices have increased for 23 of the last 24 months, beginning in February, 2012.

The S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices, released Tuesday, showed a 0.8 percent seasonally adjusted month-over-month improvement in January, topping the 0.7 percent gain forecast in a poll of economist conducted by Reuters. On an unadjusted basis, the 20-city composite index posted its third monthly decline at -0.1 percent. The 10-city index ticked up a negligible amount, meanwhile.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Office of the Inspector General (OIG) released a report detailing the results of an audit performed on pre-foreclosure property inspections. The audit was conducted after the FHFAOIG learned of fraudulent property inspections reports submitted to the FHFA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac by a contractor resulted in $12.7 million in payouts.

A new report issued by the Illinois Association of Realtors (IAR) found a decrease in home sales and an increase in median price in February. The IAR noted that median prices increased 6.9 percent, while home sales decreased by 6.2 percent last month.