Housing markets

Falling interest rates led to a rush in refinancing, but slowing purchase activity brought a decline in overall lock volumes, according to Optimal Blue.

While August's views on buying conditions and rates increased over July, the other components in Fannie Mae's sentiment index all declined, driving it lower.

The 30-year conforming fixed rate mortgage ended this week at its lowest since last Oct. 17, helped by bond traders pricing in a reduction in short-term rates.

As Washington weighs a national housing emergency, U.S. homeownership has slipped year-over-year, according to Redfin.

A pickup in refinances was offset by the first pullback in purchases in four weeks in the run-up to Labor Day, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The increase in purchase volume was not enough to offset the drop in refinance application submissions as conventional rates increased week-over-week.

The bank "temporarily" paused home equity line of credit lending in April 2020, over concerns regarding the economic impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.

While still higher than the norm, the reduction in this spread is good news when it comes to mortgage rates for potential homebuyers as well as current owners.

While the overall delinquency rate improved this summer, FHA-backed mortgage borrowers continued to exhibit concerning levels of payment stress in July.

Real estate investor sentiment bounced back from two quarters of decline, but lingering fears around tariffs, interest rates still weigh on many buyers' minds