Underwriting

Residential property values will see appreciation of 3.5% over the next 12 months, but interest rate increases could put a damper on price growth in several markets.

Large banks will gain the advantage in offering online mortgages because of their greater financial resources, pricing capabilities and cross-selling ability, Fitch Ratings said.

Increased access to jumbo loan products brought mortgage credit availability to its highest level since the bust.

The average weekly rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped to 4.1% from 4.14% despite the release of information about further tapering of the Federal Reserve's mortgage bond holdings.

Mortgage applications decreased 1.6% from one week earlier as refinancing activity continues to shrink, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Late payments on securitized commercial mortgages rose again in March, led by industrial and retail property loans.

Millennial homeowners are more likely to be current and future users of home equity lines of credit than either Gen-Xers or baby boomers.

Rising rates will dampen what had been a growing cash-out refinance market even as equity available to homeowners continues to increase.

The combination of rising rates and real estate prices has made home buying less affordable, reviving interest in a product that lets consumers borrow against the future equity of their homes.

Risk management concerns were responsible for a five-percentage-point reduction in bank non-qualified mortgage lending last year.