Mortgages

Refinances inched up 2% as interest rates dipped, but accounted for only 31% of activity, compared to two-thirds a year ago.

Volumes set a record in 2021 and they've held up better than expected this year, but declines are forecasted for the sector some banks are using to partially offset single-family's slump.

At the same time, homes bought with FHA-backed loans accounted for the smallest share since 2007, according to an Attom sales report.

New American Funding scored the highest among eligible companies in this year's substantially redesigned measurement of customer satisfaction.

The jump for second mortgages and bank cards was even more pronounced, according to indices published by Standard & Poor’s and Experian.

New single-family home mortgage applications, housing starts and industry sentiment all came in at their lowest since 2020.

Inflation and higher interest rates are hurting distressed borrowers, but low unemployment, remaining forbearance and loss mitigation options are still blunting their impacts, recent loan-performance numbers suggest.

Delinquencies are likely to rise if both interest rates and inflation continue their upward movements, a DBRS Morningstar report said.

The slowdown in new single-family construction is one of several headwinds homebuilders find themselves facing this summer.

Like other mortgage lenders, the San Francisco megabank has been cutting staff since refinancing volumes started to fall. Additional layoffs are expected over the next couple of quarters, according to the bank’s chief financial officer.

Following their largest drop in over a decade one week ago, averages rapidly swung upward as recession talk receded.

Led by Rep. French Hill, the group of conservative lawmakers said the agency must do more to ensure appropriate transparency regarding any new products or activities that the enterprises undertake.

The government-sponsored enterprises divested themselves of the largest share of these loans since they first began selling them in 2014, a Federal Housing Finance Agency report found.

The 18.5% increase in Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's purchase authority was the driver of a 41% decrease in higher balance originations between December and January.

Prices are starting to fall in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. but they are still much higher than their pre-pandemic levels.

The former lender’s abrupt closure Wednesday and First Guaranty’s recent bankruptcy filing highlight difficulties in the current mortgage environment despite nonbanks being on stronger financial footing than their counterparts of 14 and 24 years ago.

Average purchase-loan amounts shrank for the second week in a row and are currently 12% below their record size in March.

But second home sales — which were below pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 24 months during May — may slow in the future as those in vulnerable areas get tougher to insure.