Home values are on track to reach more than $167,000 by the end of 2013, according to economists and real estate experts surveyed by Zillow and Pulsenomics. According to Zillow, respondents predicted median home values will rise to $167,490 by the end of this year, a gain of 6.7 percent over 2012. The forecast is a significant jump from the 5.4 percent annual increase expected in the last quarterly survey. Based on current expectations, panelists on average predicted home values could approach new record highs by 2017.
Read More »Commentary: Solving the Wrong Problem
"GSE reform," according to White House propaganda, will end "an era of housing bubble and taxpayer bailouts." Obama's about the bubbles and bailouts, but wrong to blame Fannie and Freddie.
Read More »Former PNC Mortgage President Elected to Freddie Mac Board
Saiyid T. Naqvi, former PNC Mortgage president and CEO, has been elected as a director on Freddie Mac's board, the company announced.
Read More »Asking Prices Lose Steam in July
Trulia reported a 0.3 percent decline in asking prices from June to July--the first drop since November 2012. While monthly changes can be volatile, Trulia explained the quarter-over-quarter change in asking prices confirms the slowdown, with July asking prices improving just 3.3 percent over the last quarter compared to the peak of 4.2 percent in April. Over the last year, asking prices were still strong, rising 11 percent, though Trulia noted the change won't be as apparent since the annual average is based on a longer time period.
Read More »PEMCO in Final Stage of New Site Launch
PEMCO, an asset management company headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, will launch a new website August 13.
Read More »Realty Pilot Adds to Crew
Realty Pilot, an enterprise software development and data analytics company headquartered in Arizona, expanded its business development and support team with three additional members.
Read More »Index of Improving Markets Drops to 247
The number of markets listed on the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) Improving Markets Index (IMI) continued to decline in August, though the index still sits well ahead of where it was last year, the association reported. "While the number of improving housing markets this August remains well ahead of the same month last year, the index is affected by seasonal softening in home prices just as we saw happen in 2012," explained NAHB chief economist David Crowe.
Read More »First-Time Jobless Claims Up, Still Below Expectations
First-time claims for unemployment insurance increased 5,000 to 333,000 for the week ending August 3, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists expected the number of claims to drop to climb to 336,000 from the 326,000 originally reported for the week ending July 27. The number of filings for that week was revised to 328,000, the lowest level since early May.
Read More »First Financial Network Announces $200M Loan Portfolio Offering
First Financial Network, Inc. (FFN), announced the offering of a $200 million performing and non-performing loan portfolio on behalf of a community bank.
Read More »Allstate Appraisal Hires National Chief Residential Appraiser
Allstate Appraisal, L.P., announced the hiring of new national chief residential appraiser Scott Sparks to oversee business development, client relationship management, and the company's Residential Quality Control Divisions.
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