Originally published on September 1, 2021, by Adam Russell for FFHA. 

Washington, D.C. – Today, through the First Look Program, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) extended from 20 to 30 days, the period during which owner-occupants, public entities, and nonprofits will have exclusive ability to buy Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) real estate owned (REO) properties before they are available for investor purchase. Launched in 2009, the First Look Program promotes owner occupancy and neighborhood stabilization. Providing individuals, families, and nonprofits with a longer amount of time to find adequate financing should help keep owner-occupants living in these homes.

Read More

Originally published on September 1, 2021, by the White House. 

Since President Biden took office, the economy has created more than 4 million jobs, with an average of more than 830,000 new jobs over the last three months. In the first half of the year, the economy grew at the fastest rate seen in nearly 40 years.

• Where do you live and who do you work for?
  Charlotte, NC  - Colliers International

• How long have you been appraising?
  22 years in July

• Who was your supervisor as a Trainee and how did you meet them?
  I began as a trainee (in 1999 it wasn’t required in Illinois to formally identify as a trainee) with John O’Dwyer of JSO Valuation Group. I applied through a recommendation/suggestion from my Uncle, Don Hall. 

• What is the most unique property you’ve appraised?
  Edenmoor, a partially developed residential subdivision that included recreational ballfields, park facilities, a landfill, a building for the local EMS, and a commercial site.  The property was also developed using municipal bonds.

• What is a fact about you, outside of work-life, that people would be surprised to know?
  That I taught dance fitness and as recently as June 2020 owned my own dance fitness company.

• What is the biggest benefit you’ve seen from your involvement in the NCAI?
  Social and work connections.  I’ve made friends in the Chapter and have met appraisers from across the state which is helpful when I have an assignment in different markets for many reasons including the need for area data and an understanding of that market.  

Originally published on August 12, 2021, by Quintin Simmons for Mortgage Association of Realtors.

WASHINGTON (August 12, 2021) – Continued low levels of housing inventory, combined with record-low mortgage rates spurring housing demand, have caused an increase in median sales prices for existing single-family homes in all but one of 183 measured markets during the second quarter of 2021. That is according to the National Association of Realtors®' latest quarterly report, which reveals that 94% of 183 metro areas also experienced double-digit price increases (89% in the first quarter of 2021).

Originally published on July 14, 2021, for BloombergNews.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said it was still too soon to scale back the central bank’s aggressive support for the U.S. economy, while acknowledging that inflation has risen faster than expected.

Originally published on July, 2021,  by Brian Fluhr for Veros.com.

Today Veros Real Estate Solutions, an industry leader in enterprise risk management and collateral valuation services, released its Q2 2021 VeroFORECASTSM data that anticipates home prices will continue to appreciate at high levels during the next 12 months in the 100 most-populated markets at a rate consistent with our previous update one quarter ago. Veros is committed to the data science of predicting home value based on rigorous analysis of the fundamentals and interrelationships of numerous economic, social, and geographic variables as they pertain to home value. This data-driven approach indicates that many of the top-performing cities are trending upwards at a double-digit rate. 

Read More

Originally published on July 6, 2021, for the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau this week issued a report highlighting legal violations identified by the Bureau’s examinations in 2020. The report also highlights prior CFPB supervisory findings that led to public enforcement actions in 2020 resulting in more than $124 million in consumer remediation and civil money penalties.

Originally published on June 30, 2021, for the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

​Washington, D.C. – The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released a set of new and expanded statistical products from the National Mortgage Database (NMDB®). FHFA expanded the national statistics for new residential mortgage originations to include monthly, quarterly, and annual series for home purchase and refinance mortgages in all major market segments. FHFA also added a new series of national and state-level statistics for outstanding residential mortgages and an expanded series of national mortgage performance statistics for different market segments.

Originally published on June 23, 2021, by Jessica Gresko for APNews.com.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the president greater power to fire the head of the agency that oversees mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, ruling that the agency’s structure violates the separation of powers principles in the Constitution.

Originally published on June 23, 2021, by Jessica Gresko for APNews.com.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Wednesday gave the president greater power to fire the head of the agency that oversees mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, ruling that the agency’s structure violates the separation of powers principles in the Constitution.

Originally published on June 30, 2021, for the Appraisal Institute. 

The Appraisal Institute Board of Directors on June 28 sent to 45-Day notice proposed amendments to Bylaws and Regulation Nos. 1-4 concerning Audit Committee Powers and Duties, the Candidate for Designation Program and Life Status and Designated Member Readmission.

Originally published on June 28, 2021, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today finalized amendments to the federal mortgage servicing regulations to reinforce the ongoing economic recovery as the federal foreclosure moratoria are phased out and which will help protect mortgage borrowers from unwelcome surprises as they exit forbearance. The amendments will support the housing market’s smooth and orderly transition to post-pandemic operation. The rules issued today will establish temporary special safeguards to help ensure that borrowers have time before foreclosure to explore their options, including loan modifications and selling their homes. The rules cover loans on principal residences, generally exclude small servicers, and will take effect on August 31, 2021.

Originally published in 2021 

Carefully crafted language, both specific and standard, is key in appraisal reports. One insured appraiser recently avoided a potentially costly lawsuit by including well-thought-out language that addressed issues related to large rural properties.

Originally published on June 7, 2021, by Robert Dietz for the National Association of Home Builders.

Ending a period of volume decline that began at the end of 2019, the volume of residential construction lending posted an increase during the first quarter of 2021. Nonetheless, overall residential construction loan volume ended the year lower due to accelerated sales growth, which reduced outstanding loans at a faster rate.

Originally published on June 3, 2021, for the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

Washington, D.C. — Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will continue to offer COVID-19 forbearance to qualifying multifamily property owners through September 30, 2021, subject to the continued tenant protections FHFA has imposed during the pandemic. This is the third extension of the programs, which were set to expire June 30, 2021.

Originally published on June 1, 2021, by the White House.

One hundred years ago, the thriving Black community of Greenwood in Tulsa, Oklahoma, known as “Black Wall Street,” was ruthlessly attacked by a violent white supremacist mob. An estimated 300 Black Americans were killed and another 10,000 were left destitute and homeless.

Originally published on May 19, 2021. by Fannie Mae.

Originally published on May 26, 2021, by Kriston Capps for Bloomberg CityLab.

Housing Secretary Marcia L. Fudge is making a stop on Wednesday morning at 18th and Vine, the intersection at the heart of Kansas City’s historic Jazz District. Backed by Missouri leaders, she’ll deliver remarks on a theme that she’s been repeating since her confirmation, in speeches, during testimony and over social media: “Housing is infrastructure.”

Originally published on May 19, 2021, for the M Report.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has published its proposed 2022-2024 Underserved Markets Plans, submitted by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac under the Duty to Serve (DTS) program. The proposed Plans cover the period from January 1, 2022-December 31, 2024.

Originally published on May 17, 2021 by TheRealDeal.com. 

Developers who had hoped for potential expansion of Opportunity Zones won’t be getting their way.