Originations

Mortgage shop Newrez has entered into at least 22 partnerships with real estate brokerages.

Recent economic data pushed investors toward Treasurys over the past week, driving 10-year yields to as low as 4.1%.

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.

Analysts predict more modest job cuts over the winter after expenses rose 1% between the second and third quarters this year.

More than 300 FHA loans originated by Hometown had unpaid MIP's, according to a number of filings by state housing regulators.

Affordability decreased during the month across all racial groups and loan types tracked by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The 30-year average declined for the fifth consecutive week, as purchase demand picking up at the same time, according to Freddie Mac.

Kenon Chen, executive vice president, strategy and growth, at Clear Capital, discusses data sourcing that can best serve the mortgage and underwriting process and how it can be done in an ethical way to achieve maximum benefit.

The top five lenders have a combined retail home loan volume of more than $26 billion at the end of Q3 2023.

Under the proposal, the maximum allowable rehabilitation costs for the agency's limited program will rise to at least $50,000 to account for increases in repair expenses.

Rising purchase activity countered falling refinances, as declining interest rates helped bring some aspiring buyers to market, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Of the top five factors influencing a home buying decision, an Assurance IQ survey of real estate agents said price and affordability was at the top, followed by financing & mortgage options.