SIFMA Statement on Guidance from Federal Reserve Regarding the Volcker Rule Conformance Period<br/>http://www.sifma.org/news%2fnews.aspx%3fid%3d8589938408

Bay Area Home Sales Continue to Rise. Condo Sales Jump. April 18, 2012 La Jolla, CA.--March home sales in the Bay Area were at their highest level for that month in five years, the result of lower prices, low interest rates and an improving economy. Prices appeared to be leveling off across more of the region and may be poised to start inching back up in the stronger submarkets, a real estate information service reported. Last month 7,694 new and resale houses and condos sold in the nine-county Bay Area, up 34.9 percent from 5,702 in February, and up 9.1 percent from 7,051 in March 2011, according to San Diego-based DataQuick. The February to March sales jump is normal for the season. Last month's sales count was the highest for the month of March since 8,317 homes were sold in 2007. Since 1988, March sales have ranged from 4,898 in 2008 to 12,645 in 2004. The average is 8,812. "This is the time of year when buying patterns usually start to normalize. And while the changes we're seeing are incremental, they're incremental in a positive direction. That said, there's a long way to go. Two of the big issues to watch closely are how fast distressed properties are being put on the market, and the availability of, or lack of availability of, mortgage financing," said John Walsh, DataQuick president. The median price paid for all new and resale houses and condos sold in the Bay Area last month was $358,000. That was up 10.2 percent from $325,000 in February, and down 0.6 percent from $360,000 in March 2011. The median has declined on a year over year basis every month since October 2010, although last month's decline was the smallest. The low point of the current real estate cycle was $290,000 in March 2009. The peak was $665,000 in June/July 2007. Around half of the median's peak-to-trough drop was the result of a decline in home values, while the other half reflected a shift in the sales mix. The Bay Area saw a total of 1,734 condo resales...

There always seems to be a lot of interest in how the FICO® Score is impacted when a consumer applies for credit. In truth, these credit inquiries account for a relatively small percent of the score (less than 10%, in fact). Because of ongoing interest, let's walk through some interesting facts about inquiries: 49% of consumers have no inquiries, 24% have 1 inquiry, and 27% have 2 or more inquiries. 57% of consumers score the maximum number of points for inquiries; that is, inquiries are not a factor for at least 57% of consumers. If an inquiry does impact a score, it's typically by a small amount-less than five points, on average. 89% of the time, inquiries are not even one of the top four greatest factors impacting the score. Only 0.4% of the time, inquiries are the score factor with the greatest impact. Only 14% of consumers lose more than 10 points because of inquiries. Only 4% of consumers lose more than 20 points because of inquiries. So yes, inquiries can impact a FICO® Score, but not by all that much, in the grand scheme of things.

MCLEAN, Va., April 19, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) announces its highest-producing multifamily mortgage sellers of 2011. These are the lenders who transacted the most financing volum...

Comptroller of the Currency Thomas J. Curry today discussed mortgage lending and challenges facing mortgage lending to minority communities in particular during his speech before a conference on reviving home ownership in Los Angeles.

Fannie Mae Supports the Multifamily Mortgage Market with Robust Issuance in the First Quarter of 2012. PrintEmail. News Release. April 19, 2012. ...

Economy Shifting Back to a Lower Gear - April 2012 Economic and Strategic Research. PrintEmail. News Release. April 19, 2012. ...

The Spanish government sells €2.54 billion ($3.33 billion) worth of 2- and 10-year bonds at a keenly awaited auction, with demand up, but borrowing costs on the rise as well.

Morgan Stanley shares surged more than 6 percent in pre-market trading on Thursday, after reporting quarterly earnings that soared past analysts' expectations.