Thursday, June 30, 2016

Most mortgages sold by the government remain delinquent, FHFA says

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's regulator says few of the delinquent mortgages it's sold to investors have reportable outcomes....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/293sIZq
via IFTTT

CoStar: Commercial Real Estate prices increased in May

Here is a price index for commercial real estate that I follow.  From CoStar: Composite Price Indices Resume Solid Growth Boosted By Strong Net Absorption PRICE INDICES RESUMED SOLID GROWTH IN MAY. Both of CCRSI's two major composite price indices advanced by more than 1% in the month of May 2016, erasing earlier-year declines. After the two major indices backtracked in the first quarter of 2016 amid global economic uncertainty and a seasonal slowdown in investment activity, price growth within the commercial real estate sector during May 2016 returned to the average monthly pace set ......(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/297YRVL
via IFTTT

How do people really feel about the economy?

Political outsiders have had quite a good year in the United States (and elsewhere), and many pundits have attributed their success to voters’ profound dissatisfaction with the economy. Certainly there is plenty to be dissatisfied about, including growing inequality of income and wealth and stagnation in real wages. But there are positives as well, including an improving labor market, low inflation, and low gasoline prices. How do people really feel about the U.S. economy? This post will not tackle the substance of Americans’ worries about the economy but instead......(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29ijqM9
via IFTTT

Begging For Yield in U.S. Spurs Biggest Bond Gains Since 2009

Bloomberg Begging For Yield in U.S. Spurs Biggest Bond Gains Since 2009 Bloomberg U.S. corporate borrowers have rarely had it so good. Investors from Paris to Milan are looking for a haven after the U.K. voted to leave the European Union. Central Bankers in Frankfurt and Tokyo have created $12 trillion of negative-yielding bonds ... and more »...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/297WjXR
via IFTTT

This private equity giant wants to give landlords millions â€" B2R Mortgage (Blackstone)

B2R, a mortgage company owned by Blackstone Group, just began offering mortgages for investors that require absolutely nothing of the borrower....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29b5Ef0
via IFTTT

Mortgage Rates Touch New 2016 Lows

Mortgage Rates Touch New 2016 Lows...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29hZngX
via IFTTT

U.S. Consumer Comfort Eased Last Week From Three-Month High

U.S. Consumer Comfort Eased Last Week From Three-Month High Bloomberg Consumer comfort eased last week from a three-month high as Americans became a bit less upbeat about their finances, according to the weekly Bloomberg Consumer Comfort Index released Thursday. and more »...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/297IfNX
via IFTTT

U.S. jobless claims rise last week, trend still favorable

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The number of Americans filing for unemployment benefits rose last week, but remained below a level associated with a healthy labor market....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/295cbsT
via IFTTT

Stock futures up for third day as Brexit nerves settle

(Reuters) - U.S. stock index futures rose for the third straight day as investors looked beyond Brexit and focused on impending economic data and quarterly earnings....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/2952QRN
via IFTTT

Prime Real Estate: Amazon Has Swallowed Downtown Seattle

Bloomberg Prime Real Estate: Amazon Has Swallowed Downtown Seattle Bloomberg Having colonized the South Lake Union neighborhood, Seattle's largest private employer is building three giant spheres filled with trees-the better to connect employees with nature. June 29, 2016. Spencer Soper spencersoper · Peter Robison ......(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/295NMj2
via IFTTT

Are American Banks Sturdy Enough to Weather Another Financial Crisis?

Last week, it was announced that the results of the first round of the Federal Reserve's annual "stress tests"-which evaluate whether U.S. banks have enough capital to withstand a financial crisis-were positive: All 33 U.S. banks passed the "warm up" stress tests , signaling that they could, hypothetically, withstand an estimated $385 billion in losses should a recession occur. But the second round of results-released just after markets closed on Wednesday-were less promising. The second part of the stress tests are closely watched by banks and investors, since passing or failing dictates......(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29537Ep
via IFTTT

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

Markets are not over Brexit

Stocks are sailing higher as Brexit worries fade, but the global bond market is signaling that there's plenty to fear....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29qgxYv
via IFTTT

Negative-yield bonds at $11.7 trillion

The amount has jumped to $11.7 trillion, a 12.5 percent increase since the end of May, according to Fitch Ratings....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29pGffC
via IFTTT

Freddie Mac Announces First Structured Sale of Seasoned Loans

Freddie Mac Announces First Structured Sale of Seasoned Loans...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29pBCCi
via IFTTT

There are now $11.7 trillion worth of bonds with negative yields

The amount has jumped to $11.7 trillion, a 12.5 percent increase since the end of May, according to Fitch Ratings....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29f1C4t
via IFTTT

NAR: Pending Home Sales Index decreased 3.7% in May, down 0.2% year-over-year

From the NAR: Pending Home Sales Skid in May After steadily increasing for three straight months, pending home sales letup in May and declined year-over-year for the first time in almost two years, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All four major regions experienced a cutback in contract activity last month. The Pending Home Sales Index, a forward-looking indicator based on contract signings, slid 3.7 percent to 110.8 in May from a downwardly revised 115.0 in April and is now slightly lower (0.2 percent) than May 2015 (111.0). With last month's decline, the index reading is......(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/294i7zD
via IFTTT

99 of Top 100 Housing Metros Improve Year Over Year

99 of Top 100 Housing Metros Improve Year Over Year...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/298ZduB
via IFTTT

Pending home sales down 3.7%, marking first annual drop in two years

The final push of the spring housing season turned out weaker than expected. Signed contracts to buy existing homes fell 3.7 percent in May....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/294hNRN
via IFTTT

US Consumer Spending Climbs 0.4% in May

Bloomberg US Consumer Spending Climbs 0.4% in May Bloomberg Russell Price, senior economist at Ameriprise Financial, discusses the importance of consumer spending in the U.S. economy and market expectations of a Federal Reserve rate cut in reaction to Brexit. He speaks on "Bloomberg ‹GO›." (Source: Bloomberg) ......(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/298ZyNL
via IFTTT

When The Going Gets Hot, Construction Workers Get Nocturnal

Arizona is getting so hot during the summer days, one construction site in Phoenix has to redefine "nightlife" and pour concrete at 1 a.m....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29bXPb6
via IFTTT

Treasuries' Best 6 Months Since '11 May Turn to Losses

Bloomberg Treasuries' Best 6 Months Since '11 May Turn to Losses Bloomberg Treasuries headed for their biggest back-to-back quarterly advance in almost five years. Economists say the gains may turn into losses. The Bloomberg U.S. Treasury Bond Index has surged 5.5 percent since the end of 2015, the most since the third and ... and more »...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/294WDCC
via IFTTT

Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Housing Share of GDP Expands

With the release of the final estimates of first quarter 2016 GDP growth (revised up two-tenths to a 1.1% growth rate), housing's share of gross domestic product (GDP) ticked up slightly to 15.4%.  The home building and remodeling component – residential fixed investment – as a share of GDP expanded to 3.4%. Housing-related activities contribute to GDP in two basic... Read More ›...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/296P4hV
via IFTTT

Fannie Mae: Mortgage Serious Delinquency rate declined in May

Fannie Mae reported today that the Single-Family Serious Delinquency rate declined in May to 1.38%, down from 1.40% in April. The serious delinquency rate is down from 1.70% in May 2015. These are mortgage loans that are "three monthly payments or more past due or in foreclosure".  This is the lowest rate since June 2008. The Fannie Mae serious delinquency rate peaked in February 2010 at 5.59%. Click on graph for larger image Although the rate is generally declining, the "normal" serious delinquency rate is under 1%.  The Fannie Mae serious delinquency rate has fallen 0.32......(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/292qUCr
via IFTTT

Freddie Mac Issues Monthly Volume Summary for May 2016

Freddie Mac Issues Monthly Volume Summary for May 2016...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/296PeFT
via IFTTT

Fed paralysis means 'purgatory' for big banks

The decreasing likelihood that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates this year means trouble for Wall Street....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/293WtOg
via IFTTT

The Fed: Brexit won't cause financial crisis, Bernanke says

Former Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke said Tuesday he didn't think Brexit would lead to a financial crisis....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/290jGgx
via IFTTT

Draghi Shuns Brexit Debate in Call for Global Policy Alignment - Bloomberg

Bloomberg Draghi Shuns Brexit Debate in Call for Global Policy Alignment Bloomberg Mario Draghi took an unusual tack among the world's major policy makers -- giving a speech that had no explicit reference to the U.K.'s decision to quit the European Union. While investors are keen to hear what the European Central Bank president is ... and more »...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29c2uH6
via IFTTT

Case-Shiller: National House Price Index increased 5.0% year-over-year in April

S&P/Case-Shiller released the monthly Home Price Indices for April ("April" is a 3 month average of February, March and April prices). This release includes prices for 20 individual cities, two composite indices (for 10 cities and 20 cities) and the monthly National index. Note: Case-Shiller reports Not Seasonally Adjusted (NSA), I use the SA data for the graphs. From S&P: Home Prices Continue Gains in April According to the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices The S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, reported ......(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29kCckG
via IFTTT

Consumer confidence pops in June

Consumers were feeling more optimistic than expected in June, according to a survey released Tuesday....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/291auuG
via IFTTT

CNBC explains: Brexit and 'Article 50'

The Brits cast their votes in favor of seceding the European Union, but they haven't left the economic bloc yet....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29kCic6
via IFTTT

Treasuries on Brink of History as Guggenheim Says Rally Not Over

Bloomberg Treasuries on Brink of History as Guggenheim Says Rally Not Over Bloomberg The $13.4 trillion U.S. government bond market is on the brink of history. Ten-year Treasury yields plunged for a second day Monday, closing just 0.06 percentage point from their all-time low of 1.379 percent. Even with bonds off to their best start to ......(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/291aw62
via IFTTT

Are reverse mortgages a very bad move or a great idea?

With strapped baby boomers warming to reverse mortgages, federal regulators are debuting new rules that shore up the government-backed loan program....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29kCg3Y
via IFTTT

Market uncertainty rules after Brexit vote, analysts say

Global markets found footing on Tuesday, but more headwinds may be on the horizon following the Brexit vote, analysts tell CNBC....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/295eOeq
via IFTTT

Would a Work-Free World Be So Bad?

People have speculated for centuries about a future without work, and today is no different, with academics, writers, and activists once again warning that technology is replacing human workers. Some imagine that the coming work-free world will be defined by inequality: A few wealthy people will own all the capital, and the masses will struggle in an impoverished wasteland. A different, less paranoid, and not mutually exclusive prediction holds that the future will be a wasteland of a different sort, one characterized by purposelessness: Without jobs to give their lives meaning, people will......(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/2919Z2V
via IFTTT

55+ Renters: A Tale of Growing Demand

By David Brickman, EVP Multifamily Business Much of the conversation regarding affordable rental housing tends to focus on younger households – in particular, Millennials. However recent findings from our first Freddie Mac 55+ Survey suggest that shifting housing choices by the Baby Boomers and those older may significantly exacerbate the already acute shortage of affordable housing in the years to come. Read More...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/295fpN8
via IFTTT

Monday, June 27, 2016

Tiny Homes Spark a Big Controversy

Colorado Springs has been dubbed the tiny housing capital-a designation that many in the tiny-home movement adamantly disagree with. The post Tiny Homes Spark a Big Controversy appeared first on Real Estate News and Advice - realtor.com ....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/28Zo4Og
via IFTTT

Downgraded: U.K. loses perfect AAA credit rating

Brexit just cost the U.K. its perfect AAA credit rating....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29hoy1S
via IFTTT

Brexit and U.S. Housing: Possible Impacts

The most important economic news of last week concerned the United Kingdom referendum, which supported a departure of the U.K. from the European Union (Brexit). This political action has caused stock market declines and a fair amount of concern about the health of the global economy. How does housing and home building fit into this set of impacts? I think it... Read More ›...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/28Z9N5d
via IFTTT

Brexit and the lessons of history

“The Europe we have today is the worst possible Europe, apart from all the other Europes that have been tried from time to time.” - Historian Timothy Garton Ash paraphrasing Winston Churchill With almost clockwork precision, Europe has torn itself apart in violent, usually barbaric paroxysms of self-destruction every 30-50 years for at least the past 1000 years.  The last such example of self-annihilation was the Second World War, from 1939-1945.  Historians debate whether it was the worst of all these episodes, but we do know that over 50 million people......(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29hfB8x
via IFTTT

European banks rocked again as investors digest Brexit vote

Banks in Europe saw their stocks fall sharply for a second straight session as the United Kingdom's historic vote last week weighed....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/28W76xW
via IFTTT

Freddie Mac Extends Disaster Relief to Eligible Borrowers in West Virginia

Freddie Mac Extends Disaster Relief to Eligible Borrowers in West Virginia...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/292qhdc
via IFTTT

Freddie Mac June 2016 Outlook

Freddie Mac June 2016 Outlook...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/292dvwL
via IFTTT

Black Knight Home Price Index Report: April 2016 Transactions

Black Knight Home Price Index Report: April 2016 Transactions<br/>http://ift.tt/294QJU9...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/28YA82i
via IFTTT

Trade gap widens unexpectedly

The U.S. advance goods trade deficit totaled a wider-than-expected $60.59 billion in May....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/292dvwS
via IFTTT

Quicken Loans Entices Buyers With 1%-Down Mortgage

The lender has been flying under the radar with its 1% down mortgage, which it began nearly six months ago....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/28YA0A8
via IFTTT

The Missing Men

Something is rotten in the U.S. economy. Poor men without a college degree are disappearing from the labor force. The share of prime-age men (ages 25-54) who are neither working nor looking for work has doubled since the 1970s. The U.S.'s labor participation rate for this group of men is lower than every country in the OECD except for Israel (an outlier, because of the high number of non-working Orthodox Jewish men) and Italy (an economic omnishambles). Today, one in six prime-age men in America are either unemployed or out of the workforce altogether-about 10 million men. So, this is the......(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29fUiEF
via IFTTT

Black Knight: House Price Index up 1.0% in April, Up 5.4% year-over-year

Note: I follow several house price indexes (Case-Shiller, CoreLogic, Black Knight, Zillow, FHFA, FNC and more). Note: Black Knight uses the current month closings only (not a three month average like Case-Shiller or a weighted average like CoreLogic), excludes short sales and REOs, and is not seasonally adjusted . From Black Knight: Black Knight Home Price Index Report: April Transactions -- U.S. Home Prices Up 1.0 Percent for the Month; Up 5.4 Percent Year-Over-Year • U.S. home prices were up 1.0 percent for the month, and have gained 5.4 percent from one year ago • At $260K, the U.S. HPI is ......(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/28Yll8C
via IFTTT

Fed's Yellen pulls out of ECB gathering in Portugal

SINTRA (Reuters) - Federal Reserve Chair Janet Yellen is no longer due to speak at a global central bank summit starting on Monday, the second high-profile defection after the Bank of England's governor pulled out following Britain's vote to leave the European Union....(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/29fUm7l
via IFTTT

Friday, June 24, 2016

Yellen's Fed to Play Long Game Dealing With Brexit Fallout

Bloomberg Yellen's Fed to Play Long Game Dealing With Brexit Fallout Bloomberg Britain's vote to leave the European Union will almost certainly have repercussions for the Federal Reserve -- and those could play out over days or months. The severity of the fallout will become clear over three time horizons. On Friday, the Fed said ... and more »...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/295MXqZ
via IFTTT

Trader asks: How could I have misjudged UK mood?

It's a crazy day to be a trader! NYSE floor trader Kenny Polcari asks, "How could I have so misjudged the mood and the market psyche?"...(read more)
Forward this article via email:  Send a copy of this story to someone you know that may want to read it.


from Around The Web http://ift.tt/28RS4cK
via IFTTT