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Only 23 states and the District of Columbia added construction jobs between September and October while construction employment increased in 35 states between October 2015 and October 2016, according to analysis of Labor Department data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said declining public-sector investments in infrastructure and other public projects were undermining construction employment growth in many parts of the country

About 10.5 million American households, or roughly 8.9 percent, reported that in the past month their access to adequate food was limited by a lack of money and other resources, according to new 2015 American Housing Survey data released today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Led by impressive gains in both single-family and multifamily production, nationwide housing starts surged 25.5 percent in October to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1.32 million units, according to newly released data from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department. Single-family starts reached their highest level since October 2007 while multifamily production jumped 68.8 percent from the previous month.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today announced that it has given Wells Fargo Home Lending an inaugural Diversity & Inclusion Award for its efforts in market outreach.

Mortgage applications decreased 9.2 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending November 11, 2016.

The Federal Housing Administration’s just released (link is external) actuarial report shows that the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund is on a steady financial trajectory, a finding the National Association of Realtors® believes is an opportunity to make FHA’s low-down-payment mortgage option available to an even broader swath of borrowers

Earlier today, HUD released its 2016 Annual Report to Congress on the financial status of the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMIF). The report finds that the value of the MMIF, which funds FHA's single-family homeownership and reverse mortgage loans, grew by $3.8 billion to $27.6 billion in fiscal year (FY) 2016, its fourth consecutive annual increase.

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) Builder Application Survey (BAS) data for October 2016 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases increased 8 percent relative to October 2015. Compared to September 2016, applications decreased by 2 percent. This change does not include any adjustment for typical seasonal patterns

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) announced today that it forecasts $1.10 trillion in purchase mortgage originations during calendar year 2017, an 11 percent increase from 2016.  In contrast, MBA anticipates refinance originations will decrease by 40 percent, resulting in refinance mortgage originations of $529 billion.  In total, mortgage originations are expected to decrease to $1.63 trillion in 2017 from $1.89 trillion in 2016.

Mortgage applications decreased 4.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 21, 2016. The prior week's results included an adjustment for the Columbus Day holiday

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today announced that, under certain circumstances, it will lower its required owner-occupancy standard for approved condominium developments effective immediately. FHA currently requires that approved condominium developments have a minimum of 50 percent of the units occupied by owners. However, the agency determined this requirement can be lowered to 35 percent for existing condo developments provided the project meets certain conditions.

Sales of new single-family houses in September 2016 were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 593,000, according to estimates released jointly today by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Census Bureau. This is 3.1 percent (±16.2%)* above the revised August rate of 575,000, but is 29.8 percent (±23.4%) above the September 2015 estimate of 457,000

Sales of newly built, single-family homes rose 3.1 percent in September from a downwardly revised August reading to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 593,000 units, according to newly released data by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development and the U.S. Census Bureau.

Thirty-five states added construction jobs between September 2015 and September 2016 while construction employment increased in only 21 states and the District of Columbia between August and September, according to analysis of Labor Department data released today by the Associated General Contractors of America. Association officials said contractors still report difficulty filling construction jobs, and they urged Congress to complete action on a bill that would help more students gain the skills to qualify for good-paying careers in construction.

Existing-home sales rebounded strongly in September and were propelled by sales from first-time buyers reaching a 34 percent share, which is a high not seen in over four years, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All major regions saw an increase in closings last month, and distressed sales fell to a new low of 4 percent of the market.

ortgage applications increased 0.6 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending October 14, 2016. This week's results included an adjustment for the Columbus Day holiday

A sharp decline in multifamily production brought overall nationwide housing starts down 9 percent in September, according to newly released data from the U.S. Housing and Urban Development and the Commerce Department. However, both single-family production and overall permit issuance posted solid gains