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While mortgage rates increased slightly this year, the latest Freddie Mac report showed low rate mortgages are here to stay for now. Interest rates for 15- and 30-year fixed-rate mortgages both decreased the week ended May 21 week over week, according to Freddie Mac

Earlier this week, the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance held a hearing examining the Rural Housing Service (RHS) and the role it plays in the single-family mortgage market. During the hearing, Subcommittee members debated the findings of a 2012 Government Accountability Office (GAO) report that suggested that RHS's single-family lending programs be consolidated with similar programs administered by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA)

"I applaud Chairman Shelby and members of the Senate Banking Committee for moving this bill forward, one that goes a long way toward removing many of the barriers and regulatory burdens MBA has identified as impacting the ability of qualified consumers to obtain a mortgage.

In recognition of Military Appreciation Month, the General Motors Foundation announced today a $1 million grant to Habitat for Humanity to fund projects, including 11 new home builds in partnership with Habitat families, with the goal of assisting current and former military service members

Today, in reaction to the U.S. Senate Banking Committee’s vote on Senator Richard Shelby's bill "The Financial Regulatory Improvement Act of 2015," NCRC President and CEO John Taylor made the following statement

Nat Wienecke, senior vice president, federal government relations at the Property Casualty Insurers Association of America (PCI) issued the following statement regarding the Senate Banking Committee’s mark-up of “The Financial Regulatory Improvement Act of 2015.

U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell, (D-Wash.), ranking member of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee, joined Sens. Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) in introducing legislation to reauthorize the energy programs included in the America COMPETES Act.

Despite properties typically selling faster than at any time since July 2013, existing–home sales slowed in April but remained above an annual sales pace of five million for the second straight month, according to the National Association of Realtors®. All major regions except for the Midwest experienced sales declines in April.

Congresswoman Suzan DelBene (WA-01) today opposed a bill that would restrict government investments in science, technology and innovation based on partisan ideology. The bill makes specific cuts to programs designed to combat climate change, promote energy efficiency and spur renewable energy research and development

"A bipartisan group of Senators have released legislation showing strong support for federal funding of energy efficiency research and development at the Department of Energy. The America COMPETES Reauthorization Act is authored by Senator Alexander (R-Tenn.), Chairman of the Senate Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, and co-sponsored by Senator Lisa Murkowski (R-Alaska) and Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), leaders of the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee.

Today, the Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans held a legislative hearing to review the Electricity Reliability and Forest Protection Act (H.R. 2358). This bipartisan legislation, introduced by Rep. Ryan Zinke (R-MT) and Rep. Kurt Schrader (D-OR), will improve the safety and reliability of electricity transmission and distribution lines on federal lands. This bill will bring federal consistency and accountability to how power lines are protected from tree hazards, thereby helping with grid reliability and stabilizing electricity rates.

An appraisal is an integral part of the home buying process, assuring both the mortgage lender and future homeowner that the property is worth the agreed price. However, some appraisal reports may point out that the home's value falls short of the set purchase price. This could leave home purchases in limbo if first-time home buyers and house hunters don't know what to do next

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International will offer attendees of the upcoming 2015 BOMA International Annual Conference & Expo, which takes place June 28-30 in Los Angeles.

In recent testimony submitted to the U.S. House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing and Finance, NAMB—The Association of Mortgage Professionals, has again urged Congress to take swift action to protect lower income consumers from the unfair loan origination process created by the Dodd-Frank Act.

Today, the ConsensusDocs Coalition is publishing a new standard contract for testing laboratory services specifically designed for testing hazardous waste. Contractors are often required to retain independent testing lab services. Since lab service contracts, particularly hazardous testing services, present unique issues, a standard contract should help provide consistency in the industry.

In conjunction with National Hurricane Preparedness Week(May 24-30) , the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) is urging home and business owners to prepare now for the high winds, wind-driven rain and flooding that may occur during the Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 – Nov. 30).

Today, the Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources held a legislative hearing to review the National Energy Security Corridors Act. This bipartisan discussion draft, introduced by Rep. Tom MacArthur (R-NJ) and Rep. Cedric Richmond (D-LA), establishes National Energy Security Corridors on federal lands and streamlines the rights-of-way approval process for natural gas pipelines across federal lands

Mortgage applications decreased 1.5 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending May 15, 2015.

The Department of Justice, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the District of Columbia and DC Water today announced an agreement to modify a 2005 federal consent decree allowing DC Water to incorporate green infrastructure in its long-term strategy for curtailing combined sewer overflows (CSOs)

U.S. Secretary of Housing and Urban Development, Julián Castro, joined the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty, Income Inequality, and Opportunity for a meeting to discuss efforts to expand safe, quality, and affordable housing and his vision for HUD's role in eliminating poverty. During the discussion, Secretary Castro discussed the need for full funding for HUD programs, such as Community Development Block Grant Funds and Promise Zones