Mortgage Blog

Total consumer debt increased 4.1 percent for Hawaii consumers between the first and fourth quarter of 2017, higher than the 3.5 percent experienced at the national level, according to a report by the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.

The “2017 Quarterly Consumer Debt Report,” which was released on Tuesday, found that during the fourth quarter of 2017, Hawaii had a total of $82.1 billion total consumer debt, accounting for 0.6 percent of the total U.S. consumer…

San Diego, California-based power company Sempra Energy (NYSE: SRE) anticipates closing a $9.45 billion deal to buy Dallas-based electricity provider Oncor soon after receiving a key state regulator's approval, which is expected to come down next week.

“We see great growth potential in the Texas market,” Sempra CEO Debra Reed told analysts Feb. 27. “We are very happy that we are getting close to closing this transaction.”

A bankruptcy judge gave approval Feb. 26 for Energy Future Holdings to sell…

The perpetrators of what prosecutors say was the largest-ever Ponzi scheme in Lane County are heading to federal prison.

Brothers Michael S. Holcomb and Gary L. Holcomb, both of Junction City, were sentenced to 72 months in federal prison. Michael Holcomb's daughters, Jennifer L. Chambers, of Eugene, and Kristen S. Van Breeman, of Happy Valley, each received five years probation and 250 hours of community service.

From 2008 to 2012, the brothers were managing partners of Berjac of Eugene and…

One of Kansas City's newest venture capital firms has raised $2.8 million, according to a U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission filing.

Novel Growth Partners has secured 18 accredited investors to date and has set a $50,000 minimum investment from outside investors in an ongoing fundraising effort, according to the filing. Investors will receive equity and pooled investment fund interests.

Novel Growth Partners is targeting software companies in the Midwest with at least $500,000 in annual…

Commercial lending and employment trending up.

Maryland banks last year posted their largest profit in more than a decade, buoyed by an increase in loans and assets.

The state's 50 banks insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. posted a profit of $342 million in 2017, up less than 1 percent from $340 million a year before. The yearly profit is the highest mark since $646 million for 2006, at the height of the real estate market.

The bank's closed 2017 with total assets of $40.6 billion, up less than 1 percent from $38.5 billion a year…

Russell Goldsmith sat down with the Washington Business Journal at the bank's new D.C. regional center.

Alabama ranked No. 2 in 2018 for the lowest property taxes in the U.S. and No. 28 for lowest vehicle property taxes.

That’s according to a study by WalletHub that compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia by using U.S. Census Bureau data to determine real estate property tax rates.

According to the study, the average American household spends $2,197 on property taxes for their homes each year, based on statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The study found Alabama has an effective…

Charlotte-based software company AvidXchange Inc. is implementing an expansive system update through the Clearwater, Fla.-based TOPS Software to benefit clients within the Homeowner Association and Condo Association Managers.

TOPS [ONE] is an accounting and property management system that moves customers and suppliers over to digital and mobile platforms. The new system is expected to eliminate paperwork in accounts payable and offer functionality and real-time visibility to the accounting process,…

The new tax law led to losses at some banks nationally and locally, but overall industry performance was positive, according to the chairman of the FDIC.