Originations

Monetary policy officials have finally gone a month without tightening but made it clear more action could lie ahead, suggesting it could be awhile before housing finance costs consistently fall.

A larger share of sellers were optimistic in May, but the percentage of enthusiastic buyers fell, according to Fannie Mae's Home Purchase Sentiment Index.

The Berkshire Hathaway unit first invested in the underwriter in May 2022. Previously it was wholly owned by Realogy.

A change in investor sentiment toward an expected pause by the Fed in short-term rate hikes was the driving force behind the current surge, Freddie Mac said.

But there are regional variations in housing markets across the country, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said.

Home purchasers had to come up with 0.9% more in April versus what they would have paid in March and 11.8% higher on a year-over-year basis, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

The Mortgage Bankers Association sees the likelihood of a rise in sales activity later this year based on recent construction trends, in a turnaround from the 2022 market.

The government-sponsored enterprise only tweaked the two-year mortgage origination forecast, with a $6 billion reduction for 2023, but an increase of $7 billion for 2024.

Jobs numbers, inflation data and the continued debate over raising the debt ceiling are factors applying upward pressure.

Although issuance of new securitizations has been low compared to year-ago levels, it rebounded as spring buying began

Brian O'Shaughnessey's latest venture, Imperial Bancorp, LLC, is set to secure licensing in the next four to six months, when he expects that "spreads and interest rates will tighten and loans will be worth more."

Meanwhile, the average purchase loan amount surged to its highest level in 2023, showing signs of continued demand amid limited inventory.

Housing costs increased at the slowest pace in over a decade nationwide, even while monthly growth now exceeds its pre-pandemic level.

Conventional and government-backed purchases both increased last week, even with a 12 basis point surge in the 30-year conforming average, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Stronger than expected demand and home prices drove the latest forecast.

Fannie Mae researchers found housing costs decelerating for the fourth straight quarter, but limited inventory may be driving hopeful buyers to look for opportunities in the new-construction market.

Chase, Wells Fargo both reported increased gain on sale margins in the first quarter over the fourth, a potentially promising indicator for upcoming IMB earnings.

Mixed economic signals left mortgage rates flat over the past seven days, with experts suggesting the end of Federal Reserve policy hikes might be coming as well.

The American Bankers Association's latest Credit Conditions Index points to a drop in lending and a rise in loan delinquencies through the second and third quarters.

But overall availability still remained near a 10-year low in March, with government-backed products falling for the third time in four months, the Mortgage Bankers Association found.