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Tag Archives: Federal Reserve

Experts Predict Level Playing Field as Investors Withdraw

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.

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Yellen Faces Grilling in First Hearing as Fed Chair

In prepared remarks for the House Financial Services Committee, newly installed Fed chair Janet Yellen echoed much of what analysts have seen in recent Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) statements, with references to a recovering (but still weakened) labor market, a slowing housing market, restrictive fiscal policy, and the usual prediction of a “moderate” expansion in the nation’s economic activity.

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January Job Growth Remains Anemic

The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ (BLS) Friday jobs report shows another disappointing month of growth in January—and this one can’t all be blamed on the weather. With the next Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting to be held in March, it remains to be seen how January’s data will influence the Federal Reserve’s stimulus program.

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FOMC Moves Forward on Tapering

The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted on Wednesday to scale back the Federal Reserve's bond-buying program. The cut—the second one in as many months—will see total monthly asset purchases coming down to $65 billion. While December's weak employment report led some to believe there might be a pause in the taper, the committee waved it off in light of other, more positive indicators.

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Commentary: Looking Forward

In a commentary shared with DSNews.com, Peter Muoio, chief economist for Auction.com Research, revealed the company's predictions for 2014. Muoio says the housing recovery will get its second wind next year, the Federal Reserve's tapering of stimulus measures will extend for a longer period that most analysts are expecting, REO-to-rental will cool off, and the Canadian housing bubble will come closer to bursting.

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Economic Growth in U.S. to Outpace Global Progress

As we head toward the close of 2013, many wonder what the new year will bring for economic growth, what plans the Federal Reserve has for its stimulus, and how employment and the housing market will take shape. IHS Global Insight recently released its 2014 outlook, addressing these and other factors affecting the U.S. and global economies in the coming year. IHS says global economic growth will increase from 2.5 percent this year to 3.3 percent next year, with the U.S. growing 2.6 percent, up from 1.7 percent.

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Fed to Begin Tapering Asset Purchases

In its final meeting of 2013, the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) voted to begin dialing back its asset purchase program in January. The committee agreed to scale back its purchases of agency mortgage-backed securities (MBS) to a pace of $35 billion per month; at the same time, purchases of Treasury securities will shrink to $40 billion per month. Together, the cuts represent an overall reduction of $10 billion in purchases each month.

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Regulators Exempt Some Higher-Priced Loans from New Appraisal Rules

Federal regulators have revised new appraisal rules set to take effect in January to include exemptions for some higher-priced mortgage loans, according to a press release from six federal financial agencies. Officials described the updated exemptions as ""appropriate,"" and added loans less than $25,000, streamlined refinances, and loans secured by a manufactured home and land as exempt.

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