Weekly Retail Update: April 2, 2021

Significant job declines, health and safety issues, and government-mandated store closures created a whirlwind year for retail in 2020. www.nar.realtor – Research

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Fair Housing Month Events

During the month of April, NAR will be hosting and sponsoring events to commemorate Fair Housing Month. www.nar.realtor – Fair Housing

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Fair Housing Month

Every April, REALTORS® commemorate the passage of the Fair Housing Act of 1968 with events and education that shine a light on housing discrimination and segregation, and a recommitment to expanding equal access to housing. www.nar.realtor – Fair Housing

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FHA Will Keep Mortgage Insurance Fund Rates Stable

The newly installed Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released her first quarterly report on the agency to Congress on Tuesday. A key point regarded the Federal Housing Administration’s Single Family Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund. Secretary Marcia L. Fudge said the fund has remained resilient despite the financial challenges faced […]

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NAR Thanks Biden Administration for Commitment to Housing in Infrastructure Proposal

Biden Commitment to Housing in Infrastructure Proposal NAR thanks the administration for emphasizing housing availability and broadband internet access in its infrastructure investment proposal. Media Contact:  Wesley Shaw 202-383-1193

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Refis Constituted Three-Quarters of Freddie Mac’s February Volume

Freddie Mac reported this week that its total mortgage portfolio increased at an annualized rate of 17.7 percent in February compared to a 16.1 percent gain in January. The portfolio balance at the end of the period was $ 2.818 trillion compared to $ 2.777 trillion the prior month and $ 2.350 trillion a year […]

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Borrowers are Exiting Forbearance at an Increased Rate

For the moment at least, the number of loans in forbearance are heading downhill and picking up speed. Black Knight says the number of active plans declined by 135,000 over the past month (-5 percent), 19,000 (-0.7 percent) occurred in the last week alone. As of March 23, there were 2.57 million loans remaining in […]

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Jobless Claims Dropped to the Lowest Level Since the Pandemic Started

Job market momentum seems to have picked up as the vaccine is becoming more widely available across the country, with thirty-two states reporting a decrease in new claims for the week ending March 20, 2021. www.nar.realtor – Research

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Mortgage Profits Decline but Remain Close to Record Levels

Mortgage originators’ profits remained strong in the fourth quarter of 2020, although they were down considerably from the previous period. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA’s) Mortgage Bankers Performance Report says that independent mortgage banks (IMBs) and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks reported a net gain of $ 3,738 on each loan they originated during the […]

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MBS Day Ahead: 5yr Auction in Focus; What About Econ Data and Oil?

Posted To: MBS Commentary Bonds are starting the day in roughly unchanged territory after trying to go on a stronger run in the overnight session. If the remainder of the week sees higher yields, it will be yet another example of the "false start" trend discussed yesterday . The only major data on the econ […]

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