Origination

Procedural limits on condo originations aimed at preventing issues like the Surfside building collapse have frustrated lenders, who will see if this helps.

Heightened government-backed activity also helped bring the average loan size down to its lowest mark in 2023, with purchase amounts falling below $400,000 for the first time since January, the Mortgage Bankers Association found.

Brokerage giants, reeling from a billion-dollar judgment against them a month ago, face another major trial next year.

The top five lenders have an average mortgage origination volume of more than $8.8 billion.

But the average cost for a mobile home is still more than $300,000 lower than a permanent construction.

While Fitch and CoreLogic predict home prices will rise next year, Redfin is forecasting a 1% drop in the second and third quarters.

Only 62% of likely purchasers surveyed in October were waiting to act in expectations of declines, down from 85% in April.

The number of government-backed home loans transferred from one borrower to another is up significantly this year as prospective buyers look for ways to avoid elevated interest rates. Some say this is the beginning of a larger movement, but others say regulatory hurdles will get in the way.

California, Midwest and Northeast cities are poised to see the greatest combined rise in sales and home values, but some affordability relief will also emerge nationwide in the next 12 months, Realtor.com said.

Spending on furniture and related items fell nearly 12% from the year-earlier period in October.