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☆ US consumer confidence dips to six-month low, labor market views soften
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The Conference Board's consumer confidence index slipped to 102.3 this month, the lowest level since last November, from an upwardly revised 103.7 in April. The cutoff date for the survey, which places more emphasis on the labor market, was May 22. The survey's so-called labor market differential, derived from data on respondents' views on whether jobs are plentiful or hard to get, fell to 31.0, the lowest since April 2021, from 36.9 in April, suggesting the labor market was loosening up. More timely data like first-time applications for state unemployment benefits suggests the labor market remains tight, but is gradually easing. "Investors should expect Friday's job report to reveal emerging cracks in the labor market."

Persons: Christopher Rupkey, Joe Biden, Kevin McCarthy, Jeffrey Roach, Nicole Bachaud, Lucia Mutikani, Chizu Nomiyama, Andrea Ricci, Paul Simao Organizations: Labor, Conference, Social Security, Medicare, Reuters, University of, Republican U.S . House, Sunday, U.S . Labor Department, LPL, Treasury, Federal Reserve, National Association of Realtors, Federal Housing Finance Agency, Thomson Locations: WASHINGTON, New York, North Carolina, U.S, Seattle

☆ House prices are declining in these 7 Western states while continuing to hit new heights across the rest of the country
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-30 | by ( Carla Mozée | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

US house prices rose modestly in the first quarter, said the FHFA on Tuesday. The agency's House Price Index reached just under 400, hitting an all-time high with figures tracking back to 1991. "However, year over year prices in many western states have started to decline for the first time in over ten years." Over the last four quarters, house prices rose in 78 of the top 100 largest metropolitan areas, fronted by a 14% rise for the Miami area. The start of the spring selling season showed house price gains in March in a separate S&P CoreLogic report released Tuesday.

Persons: —, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Anju Vajja, Black Knight, San, FHFA Organizations: Service, Federal Housing Finance Agency, FHFA's Research, Statistics, of Columbia, Pacific, Federal Reserve, Black, Nationwide Locations: . Utah, Nevada, Washington, Idaho , Oregon, Colorado, West Coast, San Francisco, Seattle, Miami, San Mateo, Redwood City , California

☆ US mortgage giants were placed on credit watch. Here’s what that means for home buyers
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Washington, DC CNN —The credit ratings of US mortgage giants Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae were put on watch for possible downgrade by Fitch Ratings late Thursday. The warning came because the ratings for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are linked to the sovereign rating of the United States. The aim of Freddie and Fannie is to provide liquidity into the mortgage market and enable a reliable flow of affordable funds to mortgage lenders. “The housing GSEs continue to benefit from meaningful financial support from the U.S. government,” the Fitch statement said. “While politics are at play, the ratings watch is a just that — a watch,” she said.

☆ People of color and low-income residents bear the brunt of extreme weather. To fight it, America's fastest-growing city is investing in cleaner air and affordable housing.
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-26 | by ( Kelsey Neubauer | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Indeed, these residents have borne the brunt of Austin's extreme weather events, from heat waves to cold snaps, over the past 10 years. Certain communities are affected the most by extreme heat, flooding, and freezesMore often than not, extreme heat and flooding wreak the most havoc on marginalized communities in Austin. Then there's the extreme heat: Swaths of this area are paved and lacking in green space, which makes them even hotter than the rest of the city, Llanes said. With a goal to build 135,000 new housing units — nearly half within the affordable range — by 2027, the Austin Housing Finance Corporation has already funded "several thousand" of that total, according to the tracker. "The reality is that plans tend to be repositories in the city of Austin for complaints and suggestions and then we sit on them."

☆ Analysis: Australian banks' bid to shake mortgage reliance brings new risks
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Byron Kaye | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

"When there's a macroeconomic downturn, it's generally institutional and business lending exposures that are impacted first," he added. For decades, Australian housing finance has significantly outpaced business lending, making home loan margins the engine of profits. A more recent exodus from non-lending retail services like financial advice has further weighted banks' allocation of capital to residential property. The big four banks said in earnings updates this month that their net interest margins peaked in late 2022 and have since narrowed. To hedge against interest rates risks, the Big Four may now chase new services-based revenues from commercial clients in non-lending segments, added Garland.

☆ Spinning Federal Mortgage Fees
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-28 | by ( The Editorial Board | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Journal Editorial Report: The week's best and worst from Kim Strassel, Mene Ukueberuwa, Collin Levy and Dan Henninger. Images: AP/AFP/Getty Images/Zuma Press Composite: Mark KellyChanges to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s mortgage pricing are creating a stir in the marketplace, not that the bureaucracy wants to admit it. The changes, which take effect Monday, raise costs for some good-credit borrowers while making mortgages cheaper for low-income borrowers. We highlighted the changes in a recent editorial, and FHFA Director Sandra Thompson objected to our characterization that the plan will socialize mortgage-lending risk. Ms. Thompson says the new policy “won’t impose higher fees on higher-credit-score borrowers than on lower-credit-score borrowers, all else equal.” She says some borrowers with higher credit scores may even pay less.

The changes will update the current fee structure on the majority of loans originated by mortgage lenders in the US. Prior to these fee changes, that same borrower would been charged a fee equal to 0.75% of the loan amount. On a $300,000 loan, that's the difference between a $375 fee and a $2,250 fee. While fees have generally been reduced for borrowers with lower scores compared to the old fee structure, those with low scores will still pay higher fees than those with high scores. DTI fee changes coming August 1Another fee change is set to go into effect on August 1, after its implementation was postponed following pushback from the mortgage industry.

☆ Changes are coming to some mortgage fees next month
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-26 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

Broadly, the fees will go down for many with lower credit scores and will increase for many with higher credit scores. But that doesn’t mean people with lower credit scores will pay less than those with higher credit scores. The changes mean that people with higher credit scores will still pay less based on lower risk to the lenders, but having a lower credit score will now come with less of a penalty. For those with higher credit scores, more price tiers have been put in place, which in some cases may increases fees. The difference in assessed fees is about $4,000 more for a buyer with a 640 credit score than for a buyer with a 740 credit score, based on a $300,000 mortgage.

☆ 5.5% may be a magic number for mortgage rates
▼ + stars: | 2023-04-20 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

Mortgage rates more than doubled over the past year, reaching as high as 7.08% in November, according to Freddie Mac’s average weekly mortgage rate for a 30-year fixed rate loan. The survey found that 5.5% mortgage rates seem to be the tipping point. A majority of respondents — 71% — said they are not willing to accept a mortgage rate above 5.5%. Looking at forecasts of mortgage rates for the rest of the second quarter of 2023, no major forecast is even predicting rates under 6%. Furthermore, 5.5% is lower than the historical average for mortgage rates.

Vahia is one among India’s young and aspirational 1.4 billion population, whose propensity for online spending has attracted global companies and digital platforms. And as private consumption underpins economic growth in India, financial investors are targetting new ways to tap into it. India's per capita consumption of food was at $314 in 2020 compared to $884 for China, while that of clothing stood at $53.9 versus $212.9 for China, data from CLSA showed. FOREIGN INVESTORS JUMP INWith private consumption accounting for 60% of India's $3.5 trillion GDP, foreign portfolio investors have been quick to latch on. To be sure, it has not been all smooth sailing for investors as they chased India's consumption boom.

☆ The Best Places to Buy a House on a Budget
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-30 | by ( Michael Kolomatsky | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

First-time home buyers around the country are struggling to amass a down payment in this high-inflation economy. For those who work remotely or are open to relocating, a recent study by Rocket Homes can help find a new locale. To arrive at the 10 best metros for these buyers, researchers compared home prices, mortgage payments, income and sales taxes, unemployment and crime rates, the health of residents and climate hazards. Thirty-year fixed-rate mortgages and 20 percent down payments with an interest rate of 6.5 percent were factored into the calculations. Pittsburgh came in seventh, thanks in large part to the health of its residents.

☆ US consumer confidence rises; house price inflation slows
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

The Conference Board's consumer confidence index rose to 104.2 this month from a reading of 103.4 in February. Housing affordability, which deteriorated as mortgage rates surged in response to the Fed's fight against inflation, is starting to gradually improve as house price gains continue to moderate. Annual house price growth remained strong in the Southeast, with double-digit gains in Miami and Tampa. The region had experienced rapid house price increases in prior years. Goods trade balanceThe Commerce Department also reported that wholesale inventories rose 0.2% in February after falling 0.5% in January.

☆ Expanding the FDIC deposit cap would increase the rate of bank failures, says Cato's Mark Calabria
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-28 | by ( ) www.cnbc.com time to read: 1 min

Share Share Article via Facebook Share Article via Twitter Share Article via LinkedIn Share Article via EmailExpanding the FDIC deposit cap would increase the rate of bank failures, says Cato's Mark CalabriaMark Calabria, senior advisor at The Cato Institute and former director of The Federal Housing Finance Agency and CNBC's Steve Liesman, join 'The Exchange' to discuss the latest takeaways from the hearing on the SVB collapse, the questions facing regulators, and considerations around the FDIC deposit cap.

☆ Read the letter Silicon Valley Bank's new CEO sent to the bank's clients, addressing the bank's collapse and saying it's 'business as usual'
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-14 | by ( Cheryl Teh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Silicon Valley Bank imploded last week when depositors triggered a bank run, after the bank tried and failed to raise capital. The veracity of the letter, which was widely circulated online, was confirmed by Silicon Valley Bank executive Gerald Brady. Over the weekend, the FDIC transferred all deposits and substantially all assets of the former Silicon Valley Bank to a newly created, full-service FDIC-operated 'bridge bank' in an action designed to protect all depositors of Silicon Valley Bank. I know how important Silicon Valley Bank has been and continues to be to the success of its clients and the innovation ecosystem. Thank you and best regards,Tim MayopoulosCEO, Silicon Valley Bank, N.A.

Employer Assisted Housing ProgramThe Employer Assisted Housing Program is for government employees who want to buy a home or condominium in Washington, DC. Home Purchase Assistance ProgramThe Home Purchase Assistance Program is in coordination with the DC Housing Finance Agency and offers financial assistance to low-to-moderate income first-time homebuyers. DC Housing Finance AgencyThe DC Housing Finance Agency serves Washington, DC homebuyers and homeowners. DC Open DoorsThrough the DC Open Doors program, the DC Housing Finance Agency offers a 0% interest Down Payment Assistance Loan to potential homebuyers. You don't have to be a first-time homebuyer to be a part of the DC Open Doors program.

☆ Racial homeownership gap larger now than a decade ago
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

The homeownership rate for White Americans in 2021 was 72.7%, but the rate for Black Americans was 44%, according to NAR’s analysis of the most recent data. The homeownership rate for Asian Americans was 62.8% and for Hispanic Americans it was 50.6%. The homeownership rate for Black Americans varies from 15% to 55% across the country. The states with the highest homeownership rate for Black Americans were South Carolina at 55%, Delaware at 54%, and Mississippi at 54%. Meanwhile, the homeownership rate for White Americans ranged from 50% to 81% across the country.

☆ Racial homeownership gap widens as Black buyers struggle to secure loans amid persistent discrimination and redlining, analysis finds
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-02 | by ( Jordan Hart | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The rate of Black homeownership in the US has increased by less than one percent over the last , the National Association of Realtors found. On Tuesday, an Ohio-based bank paid millions to the Justice Department after being accused of redlining Black buyers. New scoring models by the Federal Housing Finance Agency suggest homeownership could become more accessible for Americans. While the US homeownership rate has consistently increased over the years, according to an analysis by the National Association of Realtors, the Black homeownership rate has failed to keep up. Homeowners of other racial and ethnic groups fall below the 30% mark, with just 21% of White Americans spending 30% of their income on their home.

☆ U.S. consumer confidence ebbs; house price inflation slows further
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( Lucia Mutikani | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

But the correlation between confidence and consumer spending has been weak. The Conference Board's consumer confidence index dropped to 102.9 this month from 106.0 in January. Consumer spending increased by the most in nearly two years in January, driven by a surge in wage gains. The S&P CoreLogic Case Shiller national home price index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, increased 5.8% year-on-year in December, a second report showed on Tuesday. Price growth remained strong in the South, with double-digit gains in Miami, Tampa and Atlanta.

☆ U.S. house price inflation cools further in December
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

The S&P CoreLogic Case Shiller national home price index, covering all nine U.S. census divisions, increased 5.8% year-on-year in December. Prices increased 5.8% in 2022, pulling back from 2021's record-setting 18.9% gain. The housing market has been hammered by the Federal Reserve's aggressive monetary policy stance, with residential investment contracting for seven straight quarters, the longest such stretch since 2009. The 30-year fixed mortgage rate increased to an average of 6.50% last week from 6.32% in the prior week, according to data from mortgage finance agency Freddie Mac. While higher mortgage are hurting demand and cooling house price inflation, the FHFA noted that "these negative pressures were partially offset by historically low inventory."

☆ India's HDFC raises $3 bln in largest-ever local bond issue-bankers
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-16 | by ( Dharamraj Lalit Dhutia | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

MUMBAI, Feb 16 (Reuters) - India's Housing Development Finance Corp (HDFC.NS) raised its target of 250 billion rupees ($3.03 billion) in the country's largest privately placed corporate bond issue on Thursday, merchant bankers said. The country's largest housing financier, soon to be merged with private lender HDFC Bank, sold 10-year bonds at a coupon of 7.97% coupon. The issue received 92 bids worth 278.63 billion rupees, of which the company retained 55 bids worth 250 billion rupees, HDFC said in an exchange notice. The NBFC has now raised an aggregate of 784.14 billion rupees through bond issuance in this financial year, the highest by any company. Axis Bank, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank and ICICI Securities Primary Dealership are the arrangers.

☆ Low-income renters are frustrated by Biden's new plan to make housing more affordable because they don't think it does enough to combat surging rents
▼ + stars: | 2023-02-04 | by ( Jason Lalljee | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +6 min

The White House outlined actions it's taking to protect tenants amid rising rents and evictions. Tenants' groups told Insider that they wanted decisive legal and financial action from the president. In addition to that, the White House also published a "Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights," endorsing fair housing practices and a tenants' right to organize. "On the one hand, we are encouraged that the White House has released this Blueprint as a statement of values," Martin said. "As a blueprint, the document's statements don't do anything to materially help improve conditions for renters," he said.

☆ Biden administration unveils rent protections
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Anna Bahney | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

Washington, DC CNN —In response to rent payments soaring across the country in recent years, the Biden administration unveiled new actions Wednesday to protect tenants, make renting more affordable and improve fairness in the rental housing market. The agencies involved include the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Department of Justice. The FHFA will initiate a process to examine limits on egregious rent increases and proposals for renter protections for future investments. The administration also set out its guiding principles in its “Blueprint for a Renters Bill of Rights,” which, while not enforceable, aims to underscore protections the administration says every renter deserves. Meanwhile, others in the housing industry say that this kind of federal involvement in housing policy serves to increase housing costs.

☆ We read the Biden administration's proposal to protect renters from discrimination and unwarranted rent hikes. Here are the 3 biggest takeaways.
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-25 | by ( Robert Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +5 min

The Biden administration announced several new protections for renters on January 25. At the same time, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, an independent organization that helps regulate the mortgage market, will create new policies that encourage development of affordable-rental units. Insider reviewed the documents the White House released concerning the new initiatives. The idea comes as many renters continue to organize in order to combat what they see as unwarranted rent increases and evictions. Some home builders like Jerry Konter, the chairman of the National Association of Home Builders, disagreed with the new protections for renters.

☆ With mortgage rates dropping and fee changes in the pipeline, now may be the time to buy that home
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( Jason Stauffer | Benji Stawski | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +7 min

Is now a good time to lock-in your mortgage rate? As long as the Federal Funds rate stays high, so will mortgage rates. Today's 30-year mortgage rates are currently 0.93% lower than they were last fall, when rates hit 7.08%. The upcoming FHFA fee changes affect conforming conventional loans, which can be sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac by lenders. The future fee changes will add an additional layer of complexity to a process that already causes heads to spin.

☆ India New Issue HDFC to issue 10-year bonds - traders
▼ + stars: | 2023-01-23 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

The housing finance company has invited coupon and commitment bids from bankers and investors on Tuesday, they added. The issue will also have a greenshoe option to retain an additional 20 billion rupees and will close for subscription later this week. The bonds are rated AAA by CRISIL and will have a put option at the end of the third year. Last week, Reuters had reported that the housing financier plans to tap the bond market after a gap of two months. In November, HDFC raised 19 billion rupees through bonds maturing in 10 years at an annual coupon of 7.79%.

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