Mortgages

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.

Income-producing loans secured by real estate are under pressure at banks, the government-sponsored enterprises, insurers, and in CMBS to varying degrees.

Originators funded 72.6% of the loans in 2023, while 16.7% of the loans were funded in 2022 and originators funded the rest between 2021 and 2018.

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.

Levels of home equity in seriously delinquent loans have fluctuated but today there's still a sufficient amount to help many access foreclosure alternatives, Intercontinental Exchange said.

The incentives are part of a broader set of Federal Housing Administration servicing changes for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages that also offers some new options for procedures.

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.

Stress tests suggest systemically important depositories could weather current risks. Meanwhile, single-family arrears remain low, but that business could be impacted.

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.

With a scarcity of listings driving high home prices, both repeat and new purchasers are putting the most money down in decades, the report found.

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.

The withdrawal of pandemic housing relief and high home prices have heightened consumer strain, according to nonprofit Money Management International.