FHFA: Refinance Volume Continued to Slow in Second Quarter 2017
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that more than 356,709 refinances were completed in the second quarter of 2017, compared with 510,074 in the first quarter. FHFA’s second quarter Refinance Report also shows that more than 9,700 loans were refinanced through the Home Affordable Refinance Program, bringing the total number of HARP refinances…
Federal Reserve: The Effect of Interest Rates on Home Buying
The Effect of Interest Rates on Home Buying: Evidence from a Discontinuity in Mortgage Insurance Premiums (PDF) Neil Bhutta and Daniel Ringo We study the effect of interest rates on the housing market by taking advantage of a sudden and unexpected price change in a large government mortgage program. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insures…
HUD: “Worst Case Housing Needs” Increased in 2015
8.3 million households paid more than half their income for rent or lived in substandard housing WASHINGTON – The number of very poor unsubsidized families struggling to pay their monthly rent and who may also be living in substandard housing increased between 2013 and 2015, according to a new report released today by the U.S….
HUD: $38 Million Available to Fight Housing Discrimination
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) announced today it is making $38 million available to fight housing discrimination through the Department’s Fair Housing Initiatives Program (FHIP). The grants offered through three FHIP funding notices will support a variety of critical fair housing activities, including fair housing testing in the rental and…
CFPB: Three Tools to Help Your Homebuying Process
Buying a home is exciting. It’s also one of the most important financial decisions you’ll make. Choosing a mortgage to pay for your new home is just as important as choosing the right home. You have the right to control the process. Check out our other blogs on homebuying topics, and join the conversation on…
CFPB: Don’t Let Marketers Tell You How to Age in Place
We often hear that older Americans want to “age in place.” Aging in place means living at home in the community, rather than in an institutional setting, like a nursing facility. This is the choice most people want to make even if they need services and support to do so. With over ten thousand people…
FHFA: House Price Index Up 0.4 Percent in May
Washington, D.C. – U.S. house prices rose in May, up 0.4 percent from the previous month, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) seasonally adjusted monthly House Price Index (HPI). The previously reported 0.7 percent increase in April was revised downward to reflect a 0.6 percent increase. The FHFA monthly HPI is calculated using…
CFPB: Buying a Home? Watch out for Mortgage Closing Scams
Summer is a busy homebuying season. If you’re in the market for a new home this year, watch out for email phishing scams. According to reports, the scams target homebuyers who are nearing the closing date on their mortgage loan. The scammers attempt to steal the homebuyer’s closing funds—for example, their down payment and closing…
HUD: $50 Million in Housing Counseling Grants Awarded
WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded more than $50 million in housing counseling grants to hundreds of national, regional and local organizations to help families and individuals with their housing needs and to prevent future foreclosures. HUD’s housing counseling grants and the additional funding they leverage will assist…
FHFA: House Price Index Up 0.7 Percent in April 2017
Washington, D.C. – U.S. house prices rose in April, up 0.7 percent from the previous month, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) seasonally adjusted monthly House Price Index (HPI). The previously reported 0.6 percent increase in March was revised upward to reflect a 0.7 percent increase. The FHFA monthly HPI is calculated using home…