Origination

April saw continued growth in American optimism when it comes to housing health, according to results in Fannie Mae's monthly National Housing Survey. More than half of those who took the survey (51 percent, up from 48 percent in March) said they expect home prices to climb in the next year, while 10 percent--flat for the fourth straight month--expect declines. Thirty-five percent expect no changes. April's report marks the first time in survey history that more than half of respondents projected price gains.

Hiring fell 4.3 percent in March, the same month in which payroll job growth plunged, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) reported Tuesday in its monthly Job Openings and Labor Turnover Survey (JOLTS). Data from the report indicated there were 11.2 unemployed construction workers for every available job in March, up from 9.0 in February. By industry, the number of unemployed persons per job opening also increased in the manufacturing and information sectors.

The percentage of banks reporting stronger demand for mortgage loans rose in the second quarter, the Federal Reserve reported, with more banks easing lending standards.

W.J. Bradley Mortgage Capital, LLC, a privately held mortgage banking firm headquartered in Centennial, Colorado, announced that it is taking in the principals and employees of Legacy Group Lending, Inc., of Bellevue, Washington.

As the spring homebuying season moves into full swing, the American Land Title Association (ALTA) is encouraging consumers to consider title insurance to make sure their American dream is protected.

According to NAHB, the number of housing markets showing "sustained improvement" fell to 258 from April's 273.

In an analysis released in response to the Census Bureau's report that homeownership hit an 18-year low in the first quarter, Capital Economics warns that we may not have seen the bottom yet. The firm predicted last year that the homeownership rate would decline to a low of 64 percent--a forecast it insists will come sometime within the next year. One factor contributing to the downward trend in homeownership is tight lending standards, Capital Economics says.

Imagine if someone removed the speedometer from your car and then put limits on how fast or slow you could drive.

Sabal Financial Group announced the expansion of its commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) business with the launch of Sabal Commercial Advisors.

A new report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) reveals consumer finance complaints filed by service members, veterans, and their families steadily rose throughout 2012. The report, released by CFPB's Office of Servicemember Affairs, shows the number of complaints rising steadily each quarter, closing the year at a total of 3,455. Mortgage complaints were by far the most common out of all categories, with a quarterly average of 52.3 percent of complaints focused on home finance products.