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Existing-home sales in October, although still healthy, fell from September’s spike, as home supply remains low, consumers have fewer options to choose from, and affordability issues persist in some markets.
The National Association of Realtors reported Monday that total existing-home sales declined 3 point 4 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5 point 36 million in October, down from 5 point 55 million in September. However, NAR noted that even with the decline in October, existing-home sales are up 3 point 9 percent year-over-year when the number hit 5 point 16 million.
Heightened regulatory and counterparty oversight, the rising cost of holding mortgage servicing rights as an asset, and post-crisis changes to servicing practices that have substantially increased the cost of servicing a loan are three factors driving changes in the mortgage servicing industry since the housing crisis, according to Freddie Mac's November 2015 Insight & Outlook report released on Monday. Between 2008 and 2013, the cost of servicing a performing loan increased 2 point 6 times, from 59 dollars to 156 dollars.
