FHFA: Index Shows Mortgage Rates Increased in January 2018
Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages increased from December to January, according to several indices of new mortgage contracts. The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders Index was 4.12 percent for loans closed in late January, up 4 basis points from 4.08 percent in December….
FHFA: U.S. House Prices Rise 1.6 Percent in Fourth Quarter 2017
U.S. house prices rose 1.6 percent in the fourth quarter of 2017 according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI). House prices rose 6.7 percent from the fourth quarter of 2016 to the fourth quarter of 2017. FHFA’s seasonally adjusted monthly index for December was up 0.3 percent from November. The HPI is…
OCC: Publication Focuses on Single-Family Rehabilitation Financing Programs
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) published the latest edition of its Community Developments Investments newsletter titled “Expanding Housing Opportunities: Single-Family Rehabilitation Financing Programs.” This edition of Community Developments Investments discusses how national banks and federal savings associations can help revitalize communities by establishing housing rehabilitation loan programs. The publication describes how…
HUD and Census Bureau: New Residential Sales Report for January 2018
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau jointly announced the following new residential sales statistics for January 2018: New Home Sales Sales of new single-family houses in January 2018 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 593,000. This is 7.8 percent (±19.0 percent)* below the revised December…
SBA: CEOs Ready to Get on the Fast Track to Grow in 2018; Apply by March 2nd
SBA Recruits for Emerging Leaders Initiative The U.S. Small Business Administration has launched recruitment for the 2018 Emerging Leaders Initiative, a seven-month executive-level training series targeting small businesses with high-growth potential and the entrepreneurial drive to follow through with their new skills and planning tools. For the seventh consecutive year, the Hawaii District Office will…
CFPB: How to Save for Emergencies and the Future
If your car broke down or you had an unexpected trip to the hospital, would you be able to cover the costs? If you don’t have savings, you could wind up borrowing money at high interest rates, which means you’ll owe even more in the long run. You could end up with credit card debt…
CDFI Fund: Important Reminders for FY 2018 CDFI Program and NACA Program Round Applicants
As a reminder for fiscal year (FY) 2018 Community Development Financial Institutions Program (CDFI Program) and Native American CDFI Assistance Program (NACA Program) applicants, the deadline for online submission of the SF-424 through Grants.gov for this year’s CDFI Program and NACA Program funding rounds is Friday, March 2, 2018 at 11:59 PM ET. The deadline…
FDIC: Encouraging Consumers of All Ages to Set and Achieve Savings Goals
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) today is encouraging people to use America Saves Week as an opportunity to develop, or review their progress toward, financial goals. FDIC Chairman Martin J. Gruenberg said, “During America Saves Week, financial institutions and their community partners collaborate to help people of all ages develop and achieve savings goals….
FDIC: Saul Schwartz Appointed as New Head of Office of Minority and Women Inclusion
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) Friday announced that the Board of Directors has approved the appointment of Saul Schwartz as director of the FDIC’s Office of Minority and Women Inclusion (OMWI). Schwartz has served as acting OMWI director since February 2017. He joined the FDIC in 1989, and previously worked in the legal division…