Daily Dose

In its most recent Home Price Index (HPI) release, CoreLogic reported that prices advanced 5.0 percent nationwide in December compared to the same month in 2013. The estimate includes REO transactions and short sales.

Loosening mortgage standards in the last few months failed to spur demand from borrowers, according to responses in the Federal Reserve's latest Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey. Jibing with another recent survey from Fannie Mae, larger banks were about twice as likely to report easier standards in any given category as smaller institutions.

Included in the president's newest budget is $49.3 billion set aside for HUD, a $4 billion increase over last year. In a call with reporters, HUD Deputy Secretary Nani Coloretti explained that much of the budget will be used to undo some of the cuts made as the department experienced budget restraints as a result of sequestration.

Using data from multiple listing services in markets throughout the state, the Texas Association of Realtors reported Monday that single-family home sales statewide totaled 66,664 last quarter, an 8.46 percent increase from the same period in 2013.

The Commerce Department said Monday that construction spending rose 0.4 percent month-over-month throughout December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $982.1 billion. November's spending rate was revised slightly upward to a seasonally adjusted $978.6 billion, still reflecting a decline from the month prior.

The proposed requirements include minimums for net worth, capital ratio, and liquidity criteria that must be met by servicers and sellers to do business with the GSEs.

In findings released Monday, Bankrate.com revealed that out of 1,000 adults polled last month, more than three in five would prefer to own a home instead of renting, even if mortgage rates jump by more than a full percentage point above their current level. As of last week, Bankrate's measure for the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate was 3.80 percent.

The mortgage portfolio expanded by 4.5 percent—an increase of $7.14 billion—up to an estimated $1.91 trillion in December. It was the highest annualized growth rate for any one month seen in Freddie Mac's portfolio since December 2009, when it grew by 5.7 percent.

Property data firm CoreLogic reported that both the sources and frequency of mortgage fraud have transitioned from an alarming level after the crisis to a more "normal" state. There is one exception, however: Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), which have seen fraud risk rise along with demand for loans over the past year and a half.

The University of Michigan/Thomson Reuters Index of Consumer Sentiment came to 98.1 in its final January gauge, the group conducting the survey reported. While down slightly from a mid-month reading of 98.2, the index is still higher than it's been in the last 11 years.