Daily Dose

In its 2014 Second Quarter Market Share Analysis, the American Land Title Association (ALTA) reported that the industry generated $2.7 billion in premiums in Q2 2014, down from $3.3 billion the industry generated in Q2 2013. "A lackluster spring homebuying season that was weaker than anticipated coupled with a substantial decline in refinance activity resulted in the drop in title insurance premium volume," said ALTA CEO Michelle Korsmo.

The balance of power in the housing market is continuing its tilt back to buyers—and that could spell a surge in home sales in the coming months. In the brokerage's latest Real-Time Housing Market Tracker, Redfin Chief Economist Nela Richardson notes two ongoing trends indicating a shift to a more balanced market as the nation heads into fall.

A report released Thursday by FDIC showed that federally insured institutions earned $40.2 billion and increased loan and lease balances by $178.5 billion (to $8.1 trillion) in the second quarter. The boost in lending was the largest quarterly increase since the fourth quarter of 2007.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) reported that gross domestic product (GDP) grew last quarter at an annualized rate of 4.2 percent, a little bit better than the 4.0 percent growth originally recorded in last month's initial estimate. Economists had expected no change from the first report.

Colorado's unemployment rate dropped to 5.3 percent in July, and the state's real gross domestic product (GDP) grew at a rate of two points faster than the national average in 2013, according to a recent report from Wells Fargo's Economics Group. Where housing recovery is concerned, however, Colorado's struggles mirror those of the country as a whole, according to Wells Fargo.

Having hit their lowest level of 2014 last week, mortgage rates barely budged in the latest market report from Freddie Mac. The company reported Thursday the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) was 4.10 percent (0.5 point) for the week ending August 28, unchanged heading into the Labor Day holiday.

The National Association of Realtors (NAR) reported Thursday a 3.3 percent monthly increase in its Pending Home Sales Index for July, putting the index at 105.9. With July's increase, the index has now risen for four of the last five readings, seeing a slight retreat in June. NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun said sales activity benefited from increasingly favorable conditions for buyers in the housing market.

A report filed last week by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) states that Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae ignored "red flags" with regards to a mortgage fraud scheme perpetrated by lenders Taylor, Bean & Whitaker and Colonial Bank. In addition to the losses absorbed by Freddie Mac (almost $2 billion) and Ginnie Mae (almost $1 billion), private banks that conducted business with Taylor Bean lost billions.

Boosted by an increase in secondary market purchases and a decline in sales, Freddie Mac's portfolio grew for the first time this year in July. The mortgage giant reported 0.1 percent annualized growth in its total mortgage portfolio last month—a turnaround after six straight months of declines. Year-to-date, the portfolio's annualized growth rate is -1.7 percent.

FHFA's seasonally adjusted House Price Index rose 0.4 percent on a monthly basis in June, matching May's rate of growth. The agency also included quarterly comparisons in its June index, finding that home prices were up only 0.8 percent from the first quarter to the second—the first time quarterly price growth has been below 1 percent since early 2012.