Originations

But several recent news developments are creating the perception that the risk of a recession is on the wane and that could end the downward pressure on rates.

Approximately 20 million U.S. residents – the majority of which were Gen Zers – took out their first debt product between the start of 2019 and mid-2022, a TransUnion study found.

Volumes came in higher for purchases and refinances, as well as for both conventional and government products.

Northern and East Coast towns have replaced hotspots of the past two years in Florida and the Rocky Mountains region.

The Chicago-based lender will provide up to $8,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance to underserved potential home buyers.

The breaks for some lower-income borrowers are welcomed, but the use of debt-to-income as a differentiator could complicate originations at a challenging time, lenders say.

Currently, there's no standard mechanism for lenders to easily access this information.

LOs are building relationships to hesitant consumers by offering seminars and online videos that answer the questions they're afraid to ask.

The action fulfills a promise made previously by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to add an overarching framework for maintaining equitable practices.

The Federal Reserve's focus on what's happening in the labor market makes an economic downturn likely, but many watching the markets expect a policy easing in the second half of the year and growth following that.

Sales of previously owned U.S. homes fell in December to the slowest pace in over a decade, capping one of the housing market's worst years on record amid a rapid jump in mortgage rates.

After volumes peaked at their highest in over a decade in March, the reverse mortgage market ended the year with a bankruptcy and merger involving its largest companies.

To monitor the health of lenders still operating, industry watchers should observe firms' abilities to meet covenant requirements, renew warehouse lines of credits and their activity in the mortgage servicing rights market, said Brian Brown, chief financial officer at Rocket Companies.

Updates will become effective on May 1 and a uniform mortgage-backed securities fee reduction will begin on April 1.

Generally positive news about the U.S. economy helped push rates lower, but worries about Congressional infighting over the debt ceiling could reverse the trend, Freddie Mac and Zillow said.

But lower mortgage rates and better traffic have made homebuilders a bit more optimistic, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

New U.S. home construction declined for a fourth-straight month in December, wrapping up a disappointing year for an industry that saw annual housing starts fall for the first time since 2009.

First tip: Don't rely too heavily on mobile to reach them.

Both government and conventional activity have picked up to start the year, as higher conforming amounts came into effect.

For those willing to experiment with the strategy, it could be a long-term differentiator.