Origination

Issuances fell in January for residential and multifamily segments, as concerns over available workers and future tariffs came to the fore.

After two consecutive quarters of profits, independent mortgage bankers lost money in the most recent period, for the ninth time in the last three years.

Mortgage originators are still struggling with profitability, and getting their income and costs to pencil out could mean the company's survival.

The average size of purchase applications fell below the $400,000 mark, reflecting first-time home buyer interest, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

The good news in the Consumer Price Index report has not carried over to the 10-year Treasury yield and thus mortgage rates, Freddie Mac found.

With focus turning to increased domestic production, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange plans to launch a new lumber futures trading exchange in late March.

A trio of trends — rates, prices and economic uncertainty — will dominate the 2025 Spring buying season and likely affect activity, Realtor.com warned.

Refinance activity was up 16% from the end of February while purchase applications rose mildly, on the strength of fading rates amid larger economic woes.

Loan officers have said the majority of outreach from recruiters looks like impersonal "telemarketing."

The company is a leading player in the primary and secondary markets for government-backed reverse mortgages and also has been developing proprietary products.