Origination

The pandemic has turned stress-testing around liquidity from theory into an actual case study. And while lenders shore up their cash reserves, they explain why many have been hesitant to take advantage of Ginnie Mae's Pass-Through Assistance Program.

Leadership from those entities confirmed this week that they will move forward with a plan to add a controversial 50-basis-point charge for refinancing.

Mortgage applications decreased 0.6% from one week earlier, although a slight drop in purchase volume belied the fact that consumers are taking advantage of the current rate environment, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The agency confirmed that loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can continue avoiding debt-to-income limits as the bureau completes a revamp of the Qualified Mortgage standard.

The number of bidding wars increased for the fifth straight month, with Salt Lake City posting the highest rate of competitive listings in two years, according to Redfin.

The Bay Area real estate market continued its roaring recovery in September, as buyers took advantage of ultra-low mortgage rates to scoop up a shrinking number of homes for sale at an astonishing pace.

New-home starts increased in September on a sharp gain in single-family house construction while building permits climbed, indicating residential building had plenty of momentum at the end of the third quarter.

A total of 34 states have offered coronavirus-related rental or mortgage assistance, much of which is funded by the CARES Act, according to the National Council of State Housing Agencies.