Former Fannie Mae Exec Named CEO Of Meridian Capital

Commercial real estate juggernaut Meridian Capital Group named former regulator Brian Brooks as its Chairman and CEO. Brooks takes the reigns from co-founder Ralph Herzka, who will remain with the company as Senior Chairman. The change-over will take place in April. Herzka helped found Meridian in 1991 and steered it to the forefront of commercial mortgage origination. “As we look to institutionalize Meridian as a world-class company and further diversify our revenues, there is no better steward of our future than Brian. He is an outstanding and recognized leader in financial services, and I am excited to work with him to build on our firm’s foundation of unparalleled experience and market intelligence,” Herzka said in a press release. Brooks is…

House Price Appreciation Up Annually, Trending Down Monthly

Annual home price appreciation continued its upward trend in January, though signs of moderation are shining through on a monthly basis. Prices were up 6% YOY, an increase from December’s 5.6% gain and the fastest annual rate since 2022, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price NSA Index.  San Diego once again reported the highest annual gains at 11.2%, followed by Los Angeles with an 8.6% increase. Portland showed a 0.9% increase, the smallest YOY growth. This is the second straight month of price growth in every city analyzed, putting U.S. home prices at a new all-time high, breaking every record set last year. “While there is a large disparity between leaders such as San Diego versus laggards…

Biden Addresses Housing Crisis In State Of The Union

President Biden used the State of the Union address Thursday to tackle the nation’s housing crisis and propose big plans to boost activity. “I know the cost of housing is so important to you. If inflation keeps coming down, mortgage rates will come down as well. But I’m not waiting,” he said in the address. The administration proposed a mortgage relief plan providing first-time homebuyers an annual credit of $5,000 for two years, effectively a $10,000 mortgage rate buydown that would save as much money as a 1.5% rate reduction. Another credit, aimed at current homeowners, would offer a one-year, $10,000 credit to families who sell their starter homes, helping to turn inventory over. More than 3.5 million middle-class buyers…

Rates Up For A Fourth Week, Skirting 7%

Mortgage rates inched up to a two-month high last week, putting pressure on hopeful spring homebuyers. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.94%, up from the week prior’s 6.90%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.65%. This is the fourth consecutive week of increases. The 15-year fixed fell, however, to 6.26% from 6.29%. A year ago, it averaged 5.89%. “The recent boomerang in rates has dampened already tentative homebuyer momentum as we approach the spring, a historically busy season for homebuying,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “While sales of newly built homes are trending in a positive direction, higher rates and elevated prices continue to pose affordability challenges…

HUD Commemorates Black History Month

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development commemorated Black History Month by highlighting its impact on the Black community. “This Black History Month, we celebrate all that Black Americans have contributed to our great nation,” Secretary Marcia Fudge said in a statement. “As the 18th Secretary of Housing and Urban Development and a student of history, today I honor the legacy of one of my personal heroes, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Dr. Bethune was a scholar, activist, and champion of racial and gender advancement. Despite being born Black and a woman in America at a time when both groups were denied equal protection under the law, she worked tirelessly to change our country for the better. Like Dr. Bethune,…

Rates Slip For Third Week Straight

Mortgage rates slipped for a third consecutive week as Wall Street rallied around positive inflation data. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.44%, a modest decline from the week prior’s 7.5%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.61%. The 15-year fixed rate fell from 6.81%% to 6.76%. A year ago, it averaged 5.98%. “For the third straight week, mortgage rates trended down, as new data indicates that inflationary pressures are receding,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “The combination of continued economic strength, lower inflation, and lower mortgage rates should likely bring more potential homebuyers into the market.” The consumer price index for October dipped by 0.1% month-over-month and…

Fannie Mae’s David Benson To Retire

Two high-level execs at Fannie Mae will retire in the next twelve months, leading to leadership changes, officials at the GSE announced. Fannie Mae President David C. Benson is retiring in 2024, while Chief Administrative Officer Jeffery Hayward will step down at the end of this year. “We’re deeply grateful to both Dave and Jeff for their leadership and decades of service,” said Michael Heid, Chair of Fannie Mae’s Board of Directors. “As they depart, we are implementing our succession plans and streamlining our leadership structure to continue advancing our strategy and our mission to serve homeowners, renters, and the housing market as a whole.” Benson served for 21 years in various roles at Fannie Mae, including Interim CEO, CFO,…

Home Prices Spiked Again In August

Data released today shows home price gains improved in August both annually and month-over-month. Year-over-year, prices rose 2.6%, up from 1% in July, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller National Home Price NSA Index. Prices were up 0.4% month-over-month before seasonal adjustment and 0.9% after. This is the seventh consecutive month of increases. Home prices are now at all-time highs in the two composites and seven stand-alone cities, and prices rose in 19 of 20 cities after seasonal adjustment (13 of them before adjustment, as well). The National Composite surpassed its previous record high with this data. Craig Lazzara, managing director at S&P DJI, noted that regional differences remain “substantial.” “On a year-over-year basis, the three best-performing metropolitan areas in…

Rates Climb Higher

Mortgage rates climbed again last week amid the rippling impacts of war in the Gaza Strip. Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 7.57%, jumping from 7.49%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.92%. The 15-year fixed-rate rose to 6.89% from 6.78%. A year ago, it averaged 6.09% “For the fifth consecutive week, mortgage rates rose as ongoing market and geopolitical uncertainty continues to increase,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  “The good news is that the economy and incomes continue to grow at a solid pace, but the housing market remains fraught with significant affordability constraints. As a result, purchase demand remains at a three-decade low.” The Israel-Hamas war…

Mortgage Rates Overtake Home Prices As Main Buyer Concern

Consumer sentiment is stuck in the pits thanks to soaring mortgage rates. Fannie Mae’s Home Purchase Sentiment Index sank further in September, down by 2.4 points to 64.5. The full HPSI is up 3.7 points YOY, a decline from August. Five of the index’s six components fell month-over-month. The home price expectations component increased, resulting in a net negative outlook.  Only 16% of respondents say it’s a good time to buy a home, down from 18% last month, while 84% say it’s a bad time to buy. This is new survey high. The share of respondents who say it’s a good time to sell dropped as well, down to 63% from 66%. Driving this pessimistic streak are mortgage rates, which…