Home prices

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is dismissing claims that loose monetary policy has led to rising home values and shrinking inventory and insists that the market is buoyed by creditworthy borrowers and investors.

The reduction currently under consideration by the Biden Administration would lead to even faster home price appreciation, especially in areas with moderate FHA presence, says Tobias Peter, the American Enterprise Institute’s director of housing research.

The Federal Housing Administration said in its annual actuarial report that the capital reserve ratio on its mutual mortgage insurance fund increased to 6.10% in fiscal year 2020, up from 4.84% a year earlier.

JPMorgan Chase is going on the “offensive” in mortgages as home prices rise across the country, said Marianne Lake, the bank’s chief executive for consumer lending.

Wells Fargo will temporarily stop accepting applications for home equity lines of credit, following a similar move by rival JPMorgan Chase.

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller home price index hasn't yet reflected the impact of the coronavirus, but an independent market maker has some thoughts on how it might.

HELOCs and second mortgages at credit unions are on the decline amid increasing refis and shifts in consumer sentiment about borrowing against their home’s value.

Loan limits for most mortgages Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buy will exceed $500,000 for the first time ever next year, and the maximum for most high-cost areas will be $765,000.

The housing market has changed dramatically since 2002 but the current appraisal limit has not. It's time for NCUA to catch up.

Home prices have more than recovered since the recession, but higher-than-ever medical and student debt is robbing many homeowners from realizing the benefits, while keeping others away from the market, according to Zillow.

The three federal banking agencies moved to raise the threshold for residential transactions that require an appraisal from $250,000 to $400,000.

With the ongoing issue of the affordable housing crisis, the Mortgage Bankers Association – which many credit unions are members of – got behind the Build More Housing Near Transit Act, a bipartisan bill introduced in the House of Representatives.

A handful of institutions in the last year have rolled out loan programs targeting members of the military and first responders, but there could be risks associated with these mortgages if the economy takes a nosedive.

The president signed an executive order Tuesday establishing a White House council dedicated to examining regulatory barriers to affordable housing.

The agency’s new guidance would limit some nonprofits’ ability to help borrowers pay their down payments, leading to higher home costs.

Some institutions have benefited from revitalization in the Motor City but just as consumers fled for the suburbs decades ago, most CUs in the area are headquartered outside the city itself.

The Washington-based credit union has set aside $1 million to help members with down payments for mortgages.

The agencies are weighing a plan to reduce the scope of residential real estate transactions requiring an appraisal, but appraisers have warned that the proposal could have consequences.

The mortgage industry heads into 2019 with little relief from the market strains of the past three years. To succeed — or at least survive — lenders must confront major questions about demand, affordability and market consolidation.

The industry could see a boost in mortgage lending from regulatory changes, but other factors may slow growth.