Originations

Lending activity among builders surged over 22% annually in December, but the growing share of FHA-backed borrowing in the segment took a step back for the first time in four months, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

The former Obama administration official and MBA head died unexpectedly on Jan. 16.

For the past week, the benchmark 10-year Treasury closed above 4%, as the markets priced in an increase in the consumer price index.

Both companies saw their stock rating cut because of their current valuation, similar to why Rocket's was previously dropped. They declined comment on the move.

Industry consolidation has resulted in fewer conventional and government loan programs being offered to consumers.

December's shift in Federal Reserve policy gave a notable boost to the share of consumer respondents who think the affordability of home financing will improve.

Low refinance volume creates a "relative disadvantage" for Rocket, which historically had a much larger share of that market versus purchase, a note by Bose George, analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, said.

The end-of-year slowdown comes after a recent fall surge, but overall activity still finished 6% below late 2022 levels, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The segment demonstrated sustained resilience in the third quarter, growing its share of the market each month amid rate volatility, according to Corelogic.

But the decline may be close to its floor, as wide spreads compared to 10-year Treasury yields hinder how far averages could fall.

Values declined in two regions and were flat in two others, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

The S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller index measures a period when 30-year mortgage rates were climbing toward 8%, shutting out increasing numbers of would-be homebuyers.

Rates that have been below 7% for two consecutive weeks have given originators a gift at what's typically a slow time of year, Freddie Mac said.

Activity fell despite an ongoing slide in rates, but elevated interest in VA loans, particularly refinances, managed to lift the government-sponsored index higher by a fraction, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

The outstanding amount that people ages 62 and up hold represented a nearly $15.4 billion gain in property value offset by a record $2.32 billion in borrowing.

The lawsuit accuses Navy Federal of violating the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Credit Opportunity Act after a CNN report that the lender approved a lower percentage of Black and Latino mortgage applicants.

The enterprise is now calling for a recession to start in the second quarter of next year, with negative growth expected for the full year.

The Fed's announcement is responsible for a 19 basis point drop in the 10-year yield over a two-day period, pushing the 30-year fixed under 7% for the first time since August, Freddie Mac said.

Falling interest rates are behind a recent spike in government-backed lending as well as refinances, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Decreasing availability of jumbo and non-QM products accounted for most of November's pullback, as other types of loan offerings saw minimal changes, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.