In the latest in its Transition to ""Normal"" series, Fannie Mae's Economic and Strategic Research group examines the residential construction sector, which lost 41 percent of jobs between 2006 and 2011 due to the housing bust. If housing starts return to normal levels in 2016, residential construction employment is predicted to rise to nearly 2.5 million jobs, an increase of 412,000 over current levels. Despite that gain, homebuilding employment is forecast to remain nearly 1 million less than it was at the peak of the housing boom.

Nationstar Mortgage revealed an agreement to acquire Greenlight Financial Services for up to $75 million in cash. The Lewisville-Texas based servicer made the announcement in its first quarter earnings report Tuesday.

David Stevens, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), announced the appointment of Margaret A. Colon to serve as MBA's new chief administrative officer.

Rubin Lublin, LLC, a law firm that offers cradle to grave mortgage default services, added a new partner after expanding its operations into Alabama. The firm also has locations in Georgia, Tennessee, and Mississippi.

The American Land Title Association (ALTA), the national trade association for the land title insurance industry, awarded three National Title Professional (NTP) designations Tuesday during its Federal Conference in Washington, D.C.

Micoley.com, a real estate marketing firm based in Green Bay, Wisconsin, announced its May 18 online real estate auction features over 40 properties. The event includes both single and multifamily residences, as well as commercial, mixed-use, and vacant, undeveloped land throughout Wisconsin, Illinois, Minnesota, and Georgia.

In Fannie Mae's monthly National Housing Survey, more than half of those surveyed (51 percent, up from 48 percent in March) said they expect home prices to climb in the next year, while 10 percent--flat for the fourth straight month--expect declines. Thirty-five percent expect no changes. April's report marks the first time in the survey's three-year history that more than half of respondents projected price gains.

A majority of real estate experts responding to a recent Zillow survey expressed some concern that the Federal Reserve's current policies could lead to another housing bubble. Only 4 percent of respondents are not at all worried about a bubble resulting from the Fed's monetary policy that is keeping mortgage rates down. However, 48 percent see the Fed's policies as ""a little risky,"" and the remaining 48 percent categorized the risk as ""moderate to high risk."" Experts also expect prices to end this year 5.4 percent higher than their level at the start of the year.

After being developed and tested over the past three years, Fannie Mae announced the broad release of a tool that helps to streamline foreclosure prevention efforts. Leslie Peeler, SVP of Fannie Mae's national servicing organization, explained that while adoption of the tool is voluntary for servicers, it will be required at some point in the near future.

Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc. grew its presence in Delaware market after merging with Delaware Realty, a company located in Lewes that specializes in residential and commercial real estate for southern Delaware's Sussex County.