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The plans are ambitious. According to FHFA’s update report on Release 2, the agency has two main objectives in undertaking the UMBS initiative. The first is to establish a single, liquid market for the mortgage-backed securities issued by both GSEs that are backed by fixed-rate loans. The second is to maintain the liquidity of the that market over time.

What should be done in the case that a lender fails to name a spouse in its lawsuit, or fails to name a condominium and homeowners association fee? What parties should be names in a lawsuit? These questions and more were answered in the Legal League 100 webinar.

The increase in new home sales could be due to the warm winter which allowed construction to stay on schedule, last year’s strong home construction starts, and a gradual shift from building apartments to individual homes. However, Kirchner says that while construction is up overall, existing home sales are falling.

The Fed raised rates in 2017, and with two more rate increases this year likely, potential homebuyers will get into the market in order to buy a house before rates go any higher.

While other cities experience shifts from rental to homeownership in the face of high rent costs, Detroit has reached a higher percentage of renters compared to homeowners. This could cause city official to re-evaluate how to ensure stability.

Buying a home in today’s competitive market is stressful, according to 72 percent of participants in a recent survey. Fears include losing earnest money, not finding a home in their budget range, and becoming involved in a bidding war. Prospective homeowners said they spend 1 - 3 hours a day in their search.

Fifty-six percent of renters feel that now is a good time to buy a home, which is down from 57 percent last quarter, and down even further from 62 percent a year ago. Comparatively, 80 percent of homeowners feel now is a good time to buy.

Monthly index leveled off nationally in January but grew over the year. No regions in decline for the first time since October. Mountain and Pacific values were January’s strongest.

One of the world’s top rating agencies warned that sweeping or high-level changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could unleash a host of unintended consequences.

The goal of a recent Committee on Financial Regulations hearing was “examine the unconstitutional structure of the CFPB and how it has yielded unaccountability to Congress and the executive branch.” Additionally, the committee looked at ways in which the bureau may be restructured in order to make the Bureau more Constitutional and more accountable.