Originations

While home lending employment fell, a stronger-than-expected report on the broader labor market immediately raised concerns about the potential for higher interest rates.

Recent economic data pushed investors toward Treasurys over the past week, driving 10-year yields to as low as 4.1%.

Heightened government-backed activity also helped bring the average loan size down to its lowest mark in 2023, with purchase amounts falling below $400,000 for the first time since January, the Mortgage Bankers Association found.

The 30-year average declined for the fifth consecutive week, as purchase demand picking up at the same time, according to Freddie Mac.

Rising purchase activity countered falling refinances, as declining interest rates helped bring some aspiring buyers to market, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Purchases of new single-family homes decreased 5.6% to a 679,000 annualized pace last month, government data showed Monday.

Even if the 30-year fixed were to slip further to 6.4%, it is not enough to end the seller's strike, economists said.

Also, Wells Fargo, Finance of America entered into partnerships affecting real estate tax and cybersecurity solutions.

Follow-through has been weak, but there's hope lower mortgage rates could improve conditions, according to new housing reports from Redfin and MBS Highway.

The market's reaction to the Consumer Price Index report on Tuesday helped to push the 10-year Treasury and 30-year fixed-rate loan lower, Freddie Mac said.

Relationships with brokers will be terminated on Dec. 6, but company officials stressed there would be no impact to its loan servicing or other mortgage channels.

Loan activity overall came in higher for the second week in a row, with interest rates flattened following an extended volatile period, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Higher expenses pushed per-loan losses further into the red for the first time in three quarters and with lower production expected through the first three months of next year, the picture remains bleak.

But the company was profitable for the second consecutive period under standard accounting principles in the third quarter.

Freddie Mac's survey finds the 30-year fixed loan dropped 3 basis points, but Zillow's tracker showed since the FOMC announcement, they dropped 30 basis points.

The resolution ends the firm's brief challenge to feds over its designation to utilize more flexible underwriting as it meets underserved borrower thresholds.

At the same time, the 15-year fixed rate loan rose above 7% for the first time in nearly 23 years, Freddie Mac reported.

If the Federal Housing Administration's rulemaking on home equity conversion mortgages were to go into effect as written, borrower contributions would be reduced by thousands of dollars.

The Fed's higher for longer statements have pushed up the 10-year Treasury in recent weeks to levels last seen in 2007 and that is affecting pricing.

But the industry will still have to go through some pain in 2024, Wharton Professor Susan Wachter told attendees at the Mortgage Bankers Association annual convention.