Research

FHFA: Report on Non-Performing Loan Sales Released

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its report providing information about the sale of non-performing loans (NPLs) by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises).  The Enterprise Non-Performing Loan Sales Report includes information about NPLs sold through December 31, 2018, and reflects borrower outcomes as of December 31, 2018 on NPLs sold through June 30,…

Census Bureau: Webinar on Accessing Data in 2019 Scheduled for June 20th

What: The U.S. Census Bureau will hold a webinar to show participants how to access data using data.census.gov. The Census Bureau has developed a new way of accessing data and is close to the official launch of data.census.gov and the retirement of American FactFinder in June. Starting in July, data.census.gov will be the primary way to access Census Bureau data,…

FHFA: 2018 Report to Congress Includes Legislative Recommendations

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its 2018 Report to Congress.  The report meets the requirements of the Federal Housing Enterprises Financial Safety and Soundness Act of 1992, as amended by the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008.  It provides information about FHFA’s 2018 examinations of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises),…

ABA: New Infographic Outlines Affordable Housing Challenges and Possible Solutions

In recognition of American Housing Month, the American Bankers Association Foundation today released a new infographic that examines affordable housing challenges in the U.S. and what America’s banks are doing to help ease the burden on consumers.  As the Foundation infographic shows, the rising cost of construction for new housing developments, as well as zoning and land-use…

FHFA: Index Shows Mortgage Rates Decreased on April 2019

FHFA has determined that due to dwindling participation, the Monthly Interest Rate Survey will be discontinued. This is the final monthly release.  Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages decreased from March to April, according to several indices of new mortgage contracts. The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes…

FHA: U.S. House Prices Rise 1.1 Percent in First Quarter 2019

U.S. house prices rose 1.1 percent in the first quarter of 2019 according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI).  House prices rose 5.1 percent from the first quarter of 2018 to the first quarter of 2019.  FHFA’s seasonally adjusted monthly index for March was up 0.1 percent from February. The HPI is calculated using home sales…

Federal Reserve: Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households Issued

The Federal Reserve Board’s latest Report on the Economic Well-Being of U.S. Households found that most measures of economic well-being and financial resilience in 2018 were similar to, or slightly better than, those in 2017. Overall, the financial experiences reported by the 11,000 adults surveyed in 2018 were largely positive, and many families have experienced substantial gains…

FHFA: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Total Refinance Volume Increases in March 2019 as Interest Rates Falls

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) completed 234,716 refinances in the first quarter of 2019.  FHFA’s first quarter 2019 Refinance Report also shows that 901 loans were refinanced through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), bringing the total number of HARP refinances to 3,495,296 since inception of the program…

HUD and Census Bureau: Residential Construction Activity Report for April 2019

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 April 2019. Building Permits Privately owned housing units authorized by building permits in April were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,296,000. This is 0.6 percent (±2.6 percent)* above the revised…

FHFA: Index Shows Mortgage Rates Decreased in March 2019

Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages decreased from February to March, 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 4.36 percent for loans closed in late March, down 10 basis points from 4.46 percent in February. The…