Mortgage Rates Drop At Fastest Pace In Three Weeks After Italian Elections

Mortgage rates moved lower today by the widest margin in over three weeks. The faster-paced movement is courtesy of political tensions in Italy surrounding the country's elections over the past two days. Markets had expected a Bersani victory, which would be as close to a status quo as possible and seen as best for European stability. Instead, Berlusconi may have won control of at least half of the Italian parliament. Markets perceive this as a negative development for EU stability, and such negative...

Bi-Partisan Commission Issues Suggestions for Housing Reforms

A bi-partisan group of former senators, Cabinet secretaries, and other housing and economic experts have released what is termed a new proposal for a housing finance system . The report called Housing America's Future: New Directions for National Policy was produced by the Bipartisan Policy Center's Housing Commission under a grant from the MacArthur Foundation. It asks for a review of federal housing policy calling the current system outdated and not equipped to keep pace with today's demands and...

• Individual Loan Officer Applications Fall for the First Time Since 2011
• The Fed's Impact on REITs; USDA Update - Keep our Fingers Crossed
• MBS RECAP: Italian Elections Make For Bond Market Face-Melter
• Sellers' Market Developing According to NAR
• MBS MID-DAY: What's Bad For Mario And Luigi Is Good For MBS
• The Week Ahead: Econ Data, Bernanke, Auctions and Elections

Micro News

Around the Web

• Radian to Sell Shares, Notes to Boost Mortgage-Unit Capital
• Moody's Promises Caps on Mortgage-Bond Ratings as Terms Loosen
• Corker Q&A: Future of consumer bureau with Obama
• Boston Fed Chief: Banks May Not Have Enough Capital in a Crisis
• Blueprint calls for shifting housing finance to private sector
• SIFMA Statement on BPC Housing Commission Recommendations

Video News

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Today's Comments

	"Great article, smartly written and easy to understand. I've worked as a manager at a large credit union who had recently increased volume because others..."
	"The NAHB can't be seious can they? As if "all" builders are above the board and deal honestly. How bout more disclosure on builders; where..."
	"Standardize reporting yet allow appraiser's more flexiblity in applying USPAP reporting standards? The ignorance of the appraisal industry evident..."

Today's Q&A