Public

The delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one-to-four-unit residential properties decreased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 5.30 percent of all loans outstanding at the end of the second quarter of 2015. This was the lowest level since the second quarter of 2007. The delinquency rate decreased 24 basis points from the previous quarter, and 74 basis points from one year ago, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) National Delinquency Survey.

Mortgage applications increased 0.1 percent from one week earlier, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending August 7, 2015

The Association of Mortgage Professionals, has announced that it will work to support H.R. 3393, the Mortgage Fairness Act of 2015. The legislation introduced by Congressmen Bill Posey and Dennis Ross in the U.S. House of Representatives would provide a long overdue technical correction to the Dodd Frank Act. This technical correction would allow lower and moderate income consumers and homebuyers some flexibility in the loan they choose to buy a home in order to have better cash flow at the time of closing.

A promising climb in home sales throughout the country amidst insufficient supply caused home prices to steadily rise in most metro areas during the second quarter, according to the latest quarterly report by the National Association of Realtors

The National Community Reinvestment Coalition (NCRC) reacted in disappointment to the ruling by U.S. District Judge Katherine Polk Failla overturning New York City’s Responsible Banking Act in The New York Bankers Association v. The City of New York. The Responsible Banking Act is one of several responsible banking ordinances that U.S. cities have recently passed, which require banks bidding on municipal deposits and investments to submit community development plans describing the loans, investments, and bank services they would provide to minority and modest-income neighborhoods.

The John S. and James L. Knight Foundation today announced 27 finalists in the Knight Green Line Challenge, which asked for innovative ideas that tap into the potential of the Green Line to make surrounding neighborhoods in St. Paul more vibrant places to live and work.

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) Committee on Architecture for Education(CAE) has selected nine educational facilities for this year’s CAE Education Facility Design Awards. The program honors educational facilities that the jury believes should serve as an example of a superb place in which to learn, furthering the client's mission, goals and educational program while demonstrating excellence in architectural design.

Informa Exhibitions U.S., Construction & Real Estate and theU.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) are excited to announce indie soul/pop band Fitz and The Tantrums will headline the 2015 Greenbuild Celebration, scheduled for Thursday, Nov. 19, 2015, from 7-10 p.m. at the Newseum, an interactive museum, in Washington, D.C.

EPIC began raising the money for Mercy Housing during its second annual EPIC Real Estate Forum in Las Vegas, Nev. in February, 2015. Several of EPIC’s key partners sponsored the event and made significant contributions to EPIC’s fund raising efforts.

Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker today filed a bill that will address the need to raise the net metering caps in the Commonwealth. The Governor’s action is an important step in the legislative process. It recognizes both the popularity of solar in the state and its importance to the economy, and it advances the Governor’s commitment to reaching and exceeding 1,600 megawatts (MW) of solar in Massachusetts. Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) Vice President of State Affairs Sean Gallagher released the following statement

The Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International, with support from its Industry Defense Fund and in collaboration with 15 other real estate associations, has released a groundbreaking study on the economic effects of repealing Section 1031 of the United States tax code, also known as “like-kind” exchanges.

For decades, Pittsburgh has thrived as a regional entertainment media center, and as the setting for popular movies and television shows including Silence of the Lambs, Batman and Mr. Rogers’Neighborhood. The metro area has seen a total film industry economic impact of $1 billion since the formation in 1990 of the Pittsburgh Film Office, which markets the southwestern Pennsylvania region to film and TV producers. But competition within the U.S. and from overseas challenges the city’s ability to attract movie and TV productions.

As the nation remembers the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, Lowe’s awarded Rebuilding Together a $150,000 grant and will partner with them on a two-day community revitalization effort August 10-11, 2015 in the Gentilly neighborhood of New Orleans. This effort will celebrate perseverance and continue the recovery of this diverse community that suffered some of the worst flooding during the storm

Markets in 75 of the approximately 360 metro areas nationwide returned to or exceeded their last normal levels of economic and housing activity in the second quarter of 2015, according to the National Association of Home Builders/First American Leading Markets Index (LMI) released today. This represents a year-over-year net gain of 13 markets.

Builder confidence in the single-family 55+ housing market remains in positive territory for the second quarter of 2015 with a reading of 57, according to the National Association of Home Builders' (NAHB) 55+ Housing Market Index (HMI) released today. Despite the one-point dip from the previous quarter, this is the fifth consecutive quarter with a reading above 50

Achieving community resilience relies on the engagement and action of numerous stakeholders—from commercial and residential building owners to utilities and government leaders—and offering incentives provides a powerful mechanism to encourage tough decision making. At Building Innovation 2016: The National Institute of Building Sciences Fourth Annual Conference & Expo, Achieving a Resilient Future, to be held January 11-15, 2016, in Washington, D.C., participants will examine the multiple incentive packages available to these audiences to advance investment in mitigation and resilience.

Mortgage credit availability increased in July according to the Mortgage Credit Availability Index (MCAI), a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) which analyzes data from Ellie Mae's AllRegs® Market Clarity® business information tool

Join us for AGC’s 2015 Contractors Environmental Conference on Sept. 2-3 right outside of the nation’s capital to discuss significant and ongoing developments concerning Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 404 permits and jurisdictional waters/wetlands, stormwater management permits, electronic reporting requirements, online compliance and enforcement history data, water quality trading and so much more!

The National Association of Realtors®, America's largest trade association, representing more than 1 million members involved in all aspects of the residential and commercial real estate industries, has appointed global creative agency Arnold Worldwide as agency of record, effective immediately. As AOR, Arnold will lead the association’s integrated marketing efforts including strategy, creative, digital and brand activation.

Real estate firms are confident in the industry’s future growth and their increasing profitability, according to the 2015 National Association of Realtors® Profile of Real Estate Firms.“A majority of firms have a positive view of the future, with 95 percent of all firms expecting their net income to either increase or stay the same in the next year,” said NAR President Chris Polychron, executive broker with 1st Choice Realty in Hot Springs, Ark.