Mortgage rates

Interest rate swings during this past week resulted in a decline in both refinance and purchase mortgage applications compared with the previous period, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Sales of previously owned homes declined in September to the slowest pace in three months as higher prices limited the recent progress in residential real estate that has been aided by low mortgage rates and consistent wage gains.

Charlotte's housing market saw a welcome spike in sales in September, but the lack of supply of homes continues to worsen.

BSI Financial's chief executive weighs in on changes in the interest rate environment, the evolution of digital mortgage servicing and natural disasters.

Home sales continued to perform in line with their potential in September and indicators suggest housing will keep flourishing through the fourth quarter, according to First American.

The biggest drop in mortgage rates in history has Southern California house hunters making an autumnal rush to buy, with freshly opened escrows up 14% in a year.

Portland-area home sales jumped in September compared with a year ago, bringing a jolt to the housing market during the waning months of a slow year.

Home sales and the median sales price in Central Texas hit all-time highs for any September on record, the Austin Board of Realtors said.

Mortgage applications to purchase new homes dropped 8% in September from August, as ongoing uncertainty over interest rate movements and economy likely kept buyers out of the market, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

New-home construction in September pulled back from a 12-year high though the key single-family category was stable, signaling the housing market is firming amid low mortgage rates and steady demand.

Strong economic trends like an improved employment outlook and rising homebuilder sentiment helped to drive average mortgage rates up 12 basis points from a week ago, according to Freddie Mac.

For the mortgage industry, the question of whether the Fed can control its target range for interest rates is crucial for managing volatility.

Homebuilder sentiment climbed to the highest level since February of last year as cheaper borrowing costs and a still-sturdy job market lifted measures of prospective buyer traffic, sales and the demand outlook.

Mortgage applications increased 0.5% from one week earlier, although interest rate instability affected consumers' ability to get the best price for their loan, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Sales of single-family homes in the Albany, N.Y., area fell 17.4% in August from year-earlier levels, and real estate officials are blaming a 9% drop in inventories and steep prices for newly constructed homes for the decline.

Weaker-than-expected economic data led to a decline in mortgage rates this week, although consumer attitudes remain strong, and should continue to drive increased home purchase demand, according to Freddie Mac.

Houston-area home sales increased nearly 10% in September from a year ago as buyers closed on 7,035 single-family homes, the bulk of which sold for between $150,000 and $500,000.

Mortgage applications jumped 5.2% from one week earlier as a drop in rates caused another surge in refinances, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Home bidding activity tracked by Redfin in September was weaker than a year ago but up compared to August, suggesting purchase mortgage originations haven't been subjected to a seasonal slowdown yet.

Lower mortgage rates prompted Dallas-Fort Worth builders to ramp up home starts in the third quarter.