First-time claims for unemployment insurance dropped 9,000 to 346,000 for week ending June 22, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists expected 345,000 claims. Claims filings for the week ended June 15 were revised up to 355,000 from the originally reported 354,000.
Read More »Micoley.com to Host Online Auction for Illinois Properties
Micoley.com is hosting an online auction featuring 20 residential and multifamily properties in Northwest Illinois.
Read More »Mortgage Credit Availability Trends Upward in May
A new index from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and AllRegs shows credit availability opened up slightly from April to May.
Read More »Radian Appoints Chief Risk Officer, EVP
Radian Group Inc. announced the appointment of Derek Brummer as EVP and chief risk officer. The position was previously co-managed by Brummer, who oversaw risk management for Radian Asset Assurance, and Scott Theobald, who oversaw risk management for Radian Guaranty Inc. Departing his former co-management post, Theobald will assume the newly created role of EVP for lender and structured products at Radian Guaranty.
Read More »Indiana Credit Union Chooses MortgageFlex LOS
MortgageFlex Systems, Inc., a provider of loan origination and servicing technology, announced its LoanQuest loan origination system (LOS) has been selected as the platform of choice for Indiana's FORUM Credit Union.
Read More »Business Slips Again at Freddie Mac
The growth rate on Freddie Mac's mortgage portfolio dipped back into negative numbers again in May, the GSE reported in its monthly volume summary.
Read More »Refinance Applications Fall as Rates Rocket
Mortgage applications continued to fall last week following a sizable spike in interest rates, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported in its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey. The Refinance Index fell 5 percent from the previous week, dipping to its lowest level since November 2011. The refinance share of total mortgage activity also declined, falling to 67 percent--the lowest level since July 2011. Meanwhile, the seasonally adjusted Purchase Index actually rose, increasing 2 percent.
Read More »First-Quarter GDP Growth Scaled Back
The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) put GDP growth a 1.8 percent annual rate in the first quarter, a drop from the previous estimate of 2.4 percent. The downward revision to GDP came amidst positive news about the economy. Home prices, according to the Case-Shiller Index released Tuesday, rose at their fastest pace ever in April and consumer confidence, as reported by the Conference Board, increased for the third straight month. Residential fixed investment was reported as $399 billion, up slightly from the second report.
Read More »Butler & Hosch Acquires Assets from Former Prommis Subsidiaries
Butler & Hosch, P.A., a multistate law firm focused on the legal needs of the mortgage banking industry, purchased the majority of assets from three former subsidiaries of Prommis Solutions, which filed for bankruptcy in March.
Read More »Senate Group Introduces Bill to Dissolve GSEs
Citing the overwhelming presence of the GSEs in today's mortgage marketplace, Sens. Bob Corker and Mark Warner unveiled a new piece of legislation designed to wind down the enterprises.
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