Originations

Affordability improved for a fourth straight month, but questions remain about whether recent trends will bring a significant number of buyers into the housing market.

Mortgage rates being at a two-year low has not moved potential buyers off the sidelines, Freddie Mac says, but Redfin says demand for home tours is up.

Purchase activity trudged along during what lenders describe as a traditional end-of-summer slump.

While the lock-in effect on existing supply has helped drive consumer interest in new construction, first-time buyers have been taking a greater share of that inventory.

Short-term rate cuts often don't immediately translate to lower financing costs for 30-year home loans, and there are some unique circumstances this time.

The 30-year fixed rate mortgage fell week-to-week by the largest amount since the start of August and are now almost a percentage point lower than a year ago, according to Freddie Mac.

The bank has brought in mortgage industry veteran Ken Logan as senior managing director to oversee a broader range of financing it's offering to home lenders.

Steady purchase demand still led to a positive August according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Recent rate movements have failed to result in significant purchase growth, but refinances are providing lenders some lift.

Purchases managed a small rise, but refinance activity held steady, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

About 85% of U.S. homeowners have interest rates below 6%, while a little over 50% of homeowners have a rate below 4%, Redfin's report said.

The 30-year fixed rate mortgage is lingering just shy of 6.5% level, which is not low enough to bring home purchasers back into the market, observers said.

While the total dollar volume of apartment originations fell last year, the number of companies making loans increased from 2022, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Nearly two-thirds of consumers in a July survey said they expect mortgage rates to decline soon, but most want to see them cross a very specific threshold before they act, Mphasis Digital Risk found.

Moderating interest rates in the first quarter led to changing fortunes from 2022 and 2023, a Transunion report said.

The country's renter population is dramatically outpacing the growth in homeowner households due to a multifamily construction boom that's limited price gains.

Market turmoil is driving the 10-year Treasury yield downward and taking mortgage rates with it, putting more borrowers in the money to refinance, Intercontinental Exchange said.

The lawsuit's conclusion ends fights by the rivals to depose each other's senior leaders.

Moderating price growth and higher wages are leading to affordability relief, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

But following the gross domestic product and personal consumption expenditures reports, Treasury yields and mortgage rates fell.