Origination

Sales in February rose 22.8 percent from the same month in 2020. A total of 1,062 homes changed hands last month compared with 865 the previous February, according to a Maine Listings report released Monday.

Purchases of new single-family homes decreased 18.2% to a 775,000 annualized pace from an upwardly revised 948,000 rate in the prior month, government data showed Tuesday.

A PIMCO-sponsored HELOC securitzation, as well as a mortgage-insurance linked transaction, are the latest examples of issuers getting a head start on switching to an expected replacement benchmark for Libor.

These trends, in addition to the increase in appraisal contingency waivers, could add risk to mortgage lender businesses.

Contract closings decreased 6.6% from the prior month to an annualized 6.22 million from a downwardly revised 6.66 million in January, according to National Association of Realtors data released Monday.

From offering operations folks big bonuses to grooming recent grads, lenders are getting creative in their efforts to manage staffing throughout the boom-bust cycle.

The Military Urban Development Initiative, which is also open to civilians, allows buyers to select a lot, house design and mortgage.

Also: How 9.3 million renters could enter the purchase market, lessons from Flagstar’s data breach and a possible 15-year plan for Fannie and Freddie.

A slower rate of appreciation looks more likely than depreciation in most markets, according to the company’s latest report.

Household formations, looser credit and an improved economy will overcome higher rates — and even the inventory shortage.