Last week's economic news included a survey of senior loan officers, Freddie Mac's average mortgage rates, and new jobless claims. An index reading for consumer sentiment was also reported. Loan Officers: Standards for Residential Real Estate Loans Eased or Unchanged According to the Federal Reserve's Survey of Senior Loan Officers,72 institutions surveyed reported that all types of residential real estate loans saw easing of lending standards or no change in lending requirements. Demand for … [Read more...]

Last week's economic news included readings on Case-Shiller home prices, construction spending, and consumer sentiment. Labor sector readings on private and public employment and the national unemployment rate were also released. Weekly readings on mortgage rates and new jobless claims were also released. Case-Shiller: Home Price Growth Approaches Record Home price growth approached a record set in 2006 in August, but analysts said that affordability and the shortage of homes for sale could … [Read more...]

Last week's economic news included readings on new and pending home sales and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. New Home Sales Exceed Expectations; No Growth for Pending Sales September sales of new homes reached a 10-year high with a seasonally-adjusted annual rate of 667,000 new homes sold. Analysts said that high demand drove September sales past the expected rate of 555,000 sales and August's reading of 561,000 sales of new homes. September's reading was 19.9 percent … [Read more...]

Last week's economic reports included minutes of the Fed's Federal Open Market Committee meeting held in September along with releases on inflation and weekly reports on mortgage rates and new jobless claims. FOMC Meeting Minutes Indicate December Rate Hike is No Sure Thing According to minutes for the September 19 and 20 meeting of the Federal Reserve's Federal Open Market Committee, the Fed has adopted a wait-and-see posture concerning a possible rate hike at December's meeting. Although … [Read more...]