Finance

Intermediary automation has increased the immediate availability of product, pricing and eligibility information to both sides of the mortgage business.

The company will now consider loans up to $819,000 as government-sponsored enterprise-eligible, even though it cannot sell them to the agencies until Jan. 1.

The Federal Open Market Committee's decision to reduce interest rates for the first time in nine months lifted bank stocks Wednesday. The 25-basis-point reduction could lead to net interest income headwinds now, but loan growth later, analysts said.

Most lenders said they had already priced in the widely-anticipated decision to cut short-term rates for 30-year home loans but other products will benefit.

The government-sponsored enterprise is making changes to mortgage-backed securities and servicing disclosure files to support use of the advanced credit score.

Underserved markets advocates also want to keep the 30-year mortgage and do more to expand rural and manufactured housing while preserving low cost homes.

Housing finance firms have anticipated a 25 basis point move, so what could move the needle is less that outcome than actions that go beyond or differ from it.

If the Fed reinvested the roughly $18 billion in monthly "roll-off" into new MBS, it could compress mortgage spreads, the investment management firm said.

The index plumbed one of its lowest levels in years this month, underscoring the deep freeze in housing despite a recent drop in mortgage rates.

Companies are coming up with offerings to meet certain unmet needs in the market, while others are running promotions in order to get some sectors moving again.