Daily Dose

Despite the HMI’s positive overall outlook, however, the index for single-family housing sales actually dropped by one point over the last quarter, decreasing from 59 to 58. According to the Emrath, this was likely due to a drop in buyer traffic, caused by rough winter weather throughout many parts of the country.

The company's Q1 2015 preliminary revenue of $510.4 million represents a 7 percent year-over-year decline, and preliminary income from operations dropped from $202.1 million in Q1 2014 down to $132.1 million in Q1 2015. Meanwhile, preliminary cash flow from operating activities for Q1 totaled $323 million, a year-over-year increase of 65 percent.

The fact that the Enterprises remain in conservatorship of the FHFA has been a contentious topic among lawmakers and housing industry stakeholders in recent months. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac returned to profitability in 2012, but those profits declined substantially from 2013 to 2014. Recent reports, including one from the FHFA Inspector General, have warned that the profitability of the GSEs might not continue even though the conservatorship probably will.

The FHFA now requires that Federal Home Loan Banks and their Office of Finance include demographic data related to their boards of directors in their annual minority and women inclusion reports to the agency. The banks also must now include descriptions of their outreach activities and strategies designed to promote diversity in nominating or soliciting nominees for positions on boards of directors.

More than half of those surveyed were not aware that overdue bills could impact their credit score, and only 37 percent said they were confident that their current score could help them accomplish their personal goals. Sixty-six percent said they would like to improve their credit score over the next year.

Specifically, the complaint said that Genuine Title offered purchasing, analysis and consumer data to loan officers and created mailers on the officers’ behalf. In exchange for this, the officers then referred buyers to Genuine’s closing services. Loan officers also allegedly received cash payments through their individual companies.

Inspectors have the ability to collect property condition data and corresponding photo evidence using Safeguard's Mobile Inspections Quality Control suite, which includes INSPI Mobile, INSPI QC, and MapAlert. Inspectors can submit real-time results from the field using the suite.

Fannie Mae chief economist and SVP Doug Duncan pointed out that the actuals as far as housing–existing home sales, new home sales, and prices–were either at or very close to their predicted levels during Q1, and mortgage purchase applications have been way up for the last couple of months.

According to the FOMC’s statement, this decision was made to “support continued progress toward maximum employment and price stability” and largely factored in energy prices, household spending and incomes, unemployment rates, inflation and other economic influencers. Despite opting to continue with its current interest rates, the FOMC’s statement did recognize that increases in the future are possible.

The index, an indicator of sales based on contract signings, was released this morning. It showed a 1.1 percent increase in pending sales for March and an 11.1 percent increase over the same time last year. This marks the third month in a row the sales have risen and the seventh year that pending sales numbers have improved.