Housing

FHFA: Deadline Extended to July 31 on Request for Input to Improve Access to Credit for Borrowers with Limited English Proficiency

Washington, DC – The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is extending the deadline from July 10 to July 31 to allow more time for interested parties to provide input on issues facing qualified mortgage borrowers with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) throughout the mortgage life cycle process, including mortgage lending and servicing. FHFA announced on May…

HUD: $127 Million to Protect Children and Families from Dangerous Lead and Other Home Hazards Awarded

WASHINGTON – In a continuous effort to keep families and their children safe from lead-based paint and other home health and safety hazards, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) today awarded more than $127 million to 48 state and local government agencies (see chart below). The grant funding announced today will reduce…

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…

HUD: Report Calls for Greater Action to Reduce Injuries to Seniors in Their Home

WASHINGTON – Approximately one-third of adults age 65 years or older fall in their home, resulting in injury, long-term disability and premature institutionalization. By 2020, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimates the cost related to these kinds of injuries to be nearly $60 billion a year. In an effort to reduce and prevent…

HUD and Census Bureau: New Residential Construction Activity in May

WASHINGTON – The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau jointly announced the following new residential construction statistics for May 2017: BUILDING PERMITS Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in May were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,168,000. This is 4.9 percent (±0.9 percent) below…

HUD: June is National Healthy Homes Month

WASHINGTON – In an effort to help families keep their kids healthy and to reinforce the connection between a family’s health and their home, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is kicking off the second annual National Healthy Homes Month. Throughout the month, the goal is to raise awareness for what makes…

Federal Reserve: Is The Rent Too High? Aggregate Implications of Local Land-Use Regulation

June 2017 Is the Rent Too High? Aggregate Implications of Local Land-Use Regulation (PDF) Devin Bunten Abstract: Highly productive U.S. cities are characterized by high housing prices, low housing stock growth, and restrictive land-use regulations (e.g., San Francisco). While new residents would benefit from housing stock growth in cities with highly productive firms, existing residents…

Census Bureau: 2016 Characteristics of New Housing Update

Today the U.S. Census Bureau released the 2016 Characteristics of New Housing Report, which provides annual statistics on the characteristics of new privately owned residential structures by census region. The report includes characteristics such as the number of bedrooms and bathrooms, the location of the laundry, presence of homeowner’s association, the buyer’s source of financing…

HUD: National Homeownership Month Kicks Off

WASHINGTON – The Trump Administration proclaimed June as National Homeownership Month, a time to reflect upon the impact owning a home has on household wealth, neighborhood stability and the nation’s broader economic health. The theme of National Homeownership Month 2017 is “Find Your Place in a New Era of Homeownership.”  Read the President’s Homeownership Month Proclamation….

FHFA: Request for Input to Improve Access to Credit for Qualified Mortgage Borrowers with Limited English Proficiency

Washington, DC – The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today issued a Request for Input on issues facing qualified mortgage borrowers with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) throughout the mortgage life cycle process, including lending and servicing. FHFA’s 2017 Scorecard for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Common Securitization Solutions, requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the…