National News

Government Planning Another Reduction in Fannie/Freddie Loan Limits

After decreasing the loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2011, it appears the government is prepping for another mandated decline. In an effort to further lessen the government’s role in the housing market, federal officials are

Homeownership Rate Decreases From Five Years Ago

The homeownership rate has been on a steady decline the last five years, but will that trend continue? The homeownership rate has decreased in the last five years, according to Census Bureau data, and as a result, renting has

5 Ways that Rising Mortgage Rates Have Impacted Consumers

Much has been written about how rising mortgage rates will impact the housing market, but now we have a glimpse at how they’re affection consumers. The dramatic rise in mortgage rates has been the major story in housing this

CoreLogic: Foreclosure Inventory Down 20 Percent in July

The latest National Foreclosure Report from CoreLogic highlighted a number of positive developments in the nation’s mortgage markets. The nation’s mortgage markets continued to improve in July, according to the latest National Foreclosure Report from CoreLogic, with foreclosure inventory,

Houston Asking Prices Soar 12.1 Percent in August

Asking Price growth appears to be slowing nationally, but that was hardly the case here in Houston, according to new research from Trulia. Houston’s for-sale market continued to outpace its strong rental market in August, according to the latest Price

The 10 Most Populous Hispanic Communities in the U.S.

The Hispanic population in the U.S. has grown by leaps and bounds, as has its importance on local housing markets; where are Hispanics most concentrated? Hispanics represent a growing part of the U.S. population, and are inarguably the hottest

Census Bureau: Construction Spending Jumps 5.2 Percent in July

Construction spending increased again in July, with residential construction leading the way. Construction spending in July continued its strong 2013 comeback, with overall construction activity rising 0.6 percent from June and 5.2 percent from July 2012 to a seasonally

CoreLogic: Home Prices Up 12.4 Percent in July

The nation’s home prices continued to improve in July, with the latest Home Price Index from CoreLogic posting fantastic year-over-year numbers. Home prices continued their double-digit performance in the CoreLogic Home Price Index, rising 12.4 percent year-over-year in July. That

The Top 9 Reasons That Consumers Moved in 2012

Quite a few Americans moved about in 2012, but what were the reasons behind their move? Last year, a hefty number of Americans moved to new residences – 35.5 million Americans, in fact, a 4 percent increase from 2011

McMansions: The Sequel

Many analysts were proclaiming the demise of the McMansion, but the super-sized housing option seems to have returned from the dead. The narrative went a little something like this: McMansions, or over-sized suburban homes, were an outgrowth of the

How Quickly Do Listings Go Under Contract in Houston?

The housing market, according to the latest numbers from Redfin, seems to be slowing down; is that the case here in Houston? For the third straight month, the percentage of listings that went under contract within two weeks decreased

Housing Stakeholders React Positively Toward New Mortgage Rules

Regulators have proposed new mortgage rules that will give more Americans access to mortgage credit, generating a positive reaction from housing stakeholders. The proposal would align the qualified residential mortgage rule (QRM) with the qualified mortgage rule (QM), finalized

5 Possible Outcomes of Higher Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates have risen rather dramatically since May; what impact could those increases have, though, on the housing market? At the beginning of May the average mortgage rate for a 30-year FRM was just 3.35 percent. Since then, as

NAR: Higher Mortgage Rates Push Down Pending Home Sales

Higher mortgage rates negatively impacted pending home sales, according to new data from the National Association of Realtors. The Pending Home Sales Index, the leading measure of contract signings in the residential housing market, declined 1.3 percent from June

New Home Sales Down 13.4% in July – Cold Water on the Recovery?

New home sales fell by a hefty amount in July; what does such a decline suggest about the housing recovery? July was a lukewarm month for new single-family home sales, with the Census Bureau reporting declines in sales numbers.

Texas Home Prices Remain Strong in June Case-Shiller

June was a stellar month for Texas home prices, with the Lone Star State putting up some of the strongest home prices gains in the nation. Home prices in Texas remained among the strongest in the nation in June,

Oops! We could not locate your form.