Mortgage lenders offered more cash-out refinance programs at a time when consumers might be coming to terms with the rate environment.

The surprisingly strong U.S. economy has driven Treasury yields to the highest since late November as investors dial back bets on interest-rate cuts, wagering that policymakers will be wary of easing policy prematurely.

Mortgages that homebuyers locked in March rose 17% even with FICOs at record high for Optimal Blue's dataset, suggesting there are many qualified borrowers.

Rates for the 30-year fixed mortgage rose just 3 basis points this week, even as the 10-year Treasury yield hit its highest point since November.

Fannie Mae's home price sentiment index grew to 72.8 in February, up 2.1 points from the month prior.

Bank investors hope they can party like it's 1995, when the U.S. economy stayed healthy even after aggressive Federal Reserve rate hikes. But a few analysts are a bit more cautious over whether banks' loan books will hold up as well this time.

While the government-sponsored enterprise cut its origination forecast for this year, the Mortgage Bankers Association's updated forecast was unchanged from its October prediction.

Regulatory changes and a dearth of existing new inventory is opening a pipeline of leads in the market, but interest rate pressure cuts into optimism.

Households shelled out 5% more to upgrade their properties compared to a year ago, but volume will decline by almost 8% over the next 12 months, according to Harvard researchers.

Increased purchases among property investors and build-to-rent buyers is just part of what's driving competition these days.