Public

The National Association of Realtors® has named 10 Realtors® as finalists for REALTOR® Magazine’s 2016 Good Neighbor Awards. This award honors Realtors® who have made an extraordinary impact on their communities through volunteer work.

Independent mortgage banks and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks reported a net gain of $1,686 on each loan they originated in the second quarter of 2016, up from a reported gain of $825 per loan in the first quarter of 2016, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported today in its Quarterly Mortgage Bankers Performance Report.

Pending home sales expanded in most of the country in July and reached their second highest reading in over a decade, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Only the Midwest saw a dip in contract activity last month

Mortgage applications increased 2.8 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending August 26, 2016.

NeighborWorks America knows that manufactured housing can help solve America’s affordable housing crisis. It is a vital resource for many elderly and low-income homeowners. Particularly in rural, high-poverty areas, it may be the best housing option. Manufactured housing can offer benefits to buyers including lower cost and improved energy efficiency compared with site-built homes. Increasing the energy-efficiency of manufactured homes can help make homeownership a sustainable investment for low- and moderate-income families long-term.

Located in Phoenix, Cedar Crossing is a 74-unit complex developed by National Equity Fund partner, Native American Connections. It is a unique multiphase housing community that encompasses numerous supportive services followed up with access to transitional and ultimately permanent affordable housing.

Nation’s Top Construction Official Says New Rule Allows Federal Officials to Punish Firms at Will and Impose Arbitrary Consequences, Making it Hard for Many Firms to Continue Federal Work The chief executive officer of the Associated General Contractors of America issued the following statement today in response to the release of a final federal regulation that would allow unelected federal officials to blacklist firms who run afoul of vague guidelines

Following is a statement from Sean Gallagher, vice president of state affairs at the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), on the wide support of Amendment 4 by Florida voters

Labor Day signals the unofficial end to summer, and for many Michigan residents it is also the time when vacation homes are closed for the winter. Consumers Energy recommends several tips to help ensure these homes stay safe when unoccupied during the cold weather.

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Green Sports Alliance and National Institute of Building Sciences launched a survey today to get the input of sports venue owners and operators about their facilities’ energy and water usage. The purpose of this ground-breaking initiative is to identify opportunities to reduce energy and water use, save money and lead the way towards the possible development of a new ENERGY STAR® score and certification for stadiums and arenas

The Coalition for the Homeless released a policy brief today citing the lack of supportive housing in New York City as one of the primary drivers of the marked increase in homelessness among single adults. The report, “A Growing Crisis for Single Adults: Supportive Housing Placements Decline as Homelessness Among Single Adults Remains High,” says failure by the State government to move more quickly on creating the 20,000 supportive housing units promised by Governor Andrew Cuomo is his January 13th budget address is exacerbating the crisis.

On August 26, HUD published a notice in the Federal Register announcing the Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 Fair Market Rents (FMRs). FMRs are used to determine payment standards for a number of housing assistance programs, including the Housing Choice Voucher and the Project-Based Section 8 programs.

Buoyed by a steadily improving labor market and strong demand for multifamily housing, commercial real estate activity should remain on an upward trajectory, with a growing share of it is expected to be in smaller markets, according to the National Association of Realtors® quarterly commercial real estate forecast.

Capital Impact Partners announced today that it provided $52.5 million in financing to projects delivering social impact for underserved communities across the U.S. during the first half of 2016. In particular, second–quarter loans increased 55 percent over the same quarter in 2015. These loans support projects that increase access to housing, health care and education for low-income communities while also creating hundreds of jobs.

Washington, D.C. – The District of Columbia Housing Finance Agency (DCHFA) has a new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Yvette Downs. This week Downs began...

Buying a condominium may become easier in the near future, thanks to recent changes in the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) mortgage program. The new FHA mortgage rules, applying specifically to condominiums, became effective August, 2016 with the passage of Bill H.R. 3700.

The Multifamily Production Index (MPI), released today by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) fell slightly in the second quarter of 2016, dropping three points to 50. This is the 18th consecutive reading of 50 or above

Nevada -- it’s become ground zero for the solar industry, with its intense levels of sunshine; iconic solar projects, such as the Mandalay Bay Convention Center’s 8.3-megawatt rooftop installation; and equally intense policy debates over net energy metering and rate reform.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) today announced a second round of funding to help provide permanent homes to an estimated 108 veterans experiencing homelessness in seven states. The rental assistance announced today is provided through the HUD-Veterans Affairs Supportive Housing (HUD-VASH) Program which combines rental assistance from HUD with case management and clinical services provided by VA (see attached list of HUD's voucher awards below).

Slowed by frustratingly low inventory levels in many parts of the country, existing-home sales lost momentum in July and decreased year-over-year for the first time since November 2015, according to the National Association of Realtors®. Only the West region saw a monthly increase in closings in July.