We’ve posted the October First American Loan Application Defect Index, which estimates the frequency of defects, fraudulence and misrepresentation in the information submitted in mortgage loan applications. Overall, the index fell 2.5 percent in October as compared with September and decreased by 10.2 percent as compared with October 2014. Read More ›

For the month of October, First American’s proprietary Existing-Home Sales Capacity (EHS-C) model showed that the market capacity for existing-home sales decreased by 3.1 percent compared to September and decreased by 7.3 percent compared to a year ago. The EHS-C provides a gauge on whether existing-homes sales are under capacity or over capacity ... Read More ›

Earlier this week, I had the good fortune to do a radio interview with WSVA Virginia on our newly released Homeownership Progress Index (HPRI). In the interview we talked about the importance of homeownership as the primary vehicle for wealth creation for middle-class Americans, discussed underlying economic, demographic, and lifestyle conditions ... Read More ›

Homeownership rates in the United States have been trending down since the Great Recession. It’s an important trend that significantly impacts the economy and quality of life. But, what are the key drivers of homeownership? How are those drivers changing over time? What can they tell us about the future of homeownership rates? Read More ›

Hard to believe that we’re releasing today the fourth iteration of the monthly First American Loan Application Defect Index, which estimates the frequency of defects in the information submitted in mortgage loan applications. Read More ›

Price appreciation fueled by low interest rates is driving market capacity for existing-home sales above actual existing-home sales First American’s proprietary Existing-Home Sales Capacity (EHS-C) model provides a gauge on whether existing-home sales are under capacity or over capacity based on current market fundamentals. For the month of ... Read More ›