Today’s News Synopsis:

Realtor.com released their list of the top markets where you should be safe to buy because they not only show signs of stability but growing as well.  The latest Mortgage Monitor Report by Black Knight Financial Services showed an increase in the equity market to its highest in 11 years.  Panera Bread is looking to possible sell to possible interested unnamed parties.

In The News:

Curbed NY – “Manhattan and Brooklyn real estate marked by rising prices, low inventory in February” (3-31-2017)

“StreetEasy has released its February market report for Brooklyn and Manhattan and picked up on three things: rising prices for resales, low inventory, and fewer price cuts offered to buyers.”

CNBC – “Homeowners are pulling cash out again; this time it’s the millennials” (4-3-2017)

“Fast-rising home prices gave homeowners more equity than many expected, and they are now tapping that equity at the fastest rate in eight years.”

Realtor.com – “Afraid of a Bubble?  Buy Without Fear in These Top 10 Stable, Growing Markets” (4-3-2017)

“Today’s rapidly skyrocketing home prices are making more than a few people nervous.  After all, it was only about a decade ago that the U.S. real estate market bubble burst, and millions of Americans lost their homes (and for many, life savings).”

National Real Estate Investor – “Bank of Ozarks: The Commercial Real Estate Lender That’s Reaching Way Past Arkansas” (4-3-2017)

“The focus in commercial real estate finance is often on big national banks like JP Morgan or big foreign ones like Deutsche Bank, but it would be a mistake to overlook the Southern lender that’s been making waves in the commercial real estate industry, bringing a little bit of the Ozarks to the world of high finance.”

Mortgage Professional America – “Morning Briefing: US laws allow real estate corruption says report” (4-3-2017)

“The United States is one of four countries where loopholes in the law make it easy for corruption in the real estate markets according to a new report.”

DS News – “Equity To Borrowers Hits 11-Year High” (4-3-2017)

“Continued increases in home prices is driving at the strongest equity market in a decade, according to the latest Mortgage Monitor Report by Black Knight Financial Services.”

Bloomberg – “Panera Is Exploring Possible Sale After Receiving Interest” (4-3-2017)

“Panera Bread Co. is exploring strategic options including a possible sale after receiving takeover interest, people with knowledge of the matter said.”

Realtor.com – “Why Lower House Prices Lead to Higher Student Loan Default Rates” (4-3-2017)

“Add this to the list of potential consequences of the housing bust: Rising student loan defaults.  Drops in housing prices during the Great Recession account for between 24% and 32% of the rise in student loan defaults during the same period, according to a working paper distributed this week by the National Bureau of Economic Research, a nonprofit economic research organization.”