Mortgage rates

Sales of new homes rebounded to the best pace in almost a year and exceeded estimates in February, led by the Midwest, as lower mortgage costs helped buyers afford properties.

Contract signings to purchase previously owned homes fell more than estimated in February, suggesting that the prior month’s surge resulted from pent-up demand and that a sustainable recovery may take more time.

Average mortgage rates fell by their largest amount in more than 10 years last week as bond yields fell in reaction to the March 20 Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

American Banker's Rob Blackwell and Cowen’s Jaret Seiberg discuss Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the future of housing finance

There was a huge rise in mortgage refinance application activity due to the large drop in interest rates following last week's Federal Open Market Committee meeting.

Central Ohio home sales rose 3.7% in February from a year ago, the biggest jump in more than a year.

Home prices in 20 U.S. cities registered their smallest gains since late 2012, decelerating for a 10th month in January as buyers held out for more affordable properties.

New-home groundbreakings fell in February by the most in eight months on a drop in single-family homes, suggesting buyers and builders remain wary despite higher wages and a drop in mortgage rates.

If mortgage rates fall below 4%, it could more than double the dollar volume of agency mortgages exposed to refinancing incentive, analysts at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods found.

The Federal Reserve decision to shift into Treasuries could pull rates down and increase the prepayment speeds on mortgage-backed securities.