Purchase

Even with the small increase in mortgage rates this past week, the home purchase market stayed active and should remain so for the peak buying season.

Following a record 2019 for the Central Texas housing market, 2020 has kicked off in much the same way, with home sales and median sales prices again reaching record highs in January.

It is the start of a new decade, and here are six trends that will play a critical role in reshaping the mortgage industry.

Low mortgage rates are setting the stage for growth, not just in refinancings, but in purchase volume as well during 2020, according to Ellie Mae.

While Seattle was the nation's fastest-rising housing market between 2016 and 2018, Tacoma now holds that dubious honor, according to Redfin.

The metro Atlanta housing market has continued to heat up, with sales jumping and pricing rising modestly since the start of the year.

Finance Minister Bill Morneau is relaxing mortgage qualification rules to make it easier for homebuyers to secure financing, a move that could give Canada's real estate market another boost.

A dip in conventional mortgage refinance demand drove mortgage application volume down compared with one week earlier, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Newly constructed home purchase application volume continued its upward momentum during January, with unexpectedly low mortgage rates encouraging consumers to start shopping now, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Baton Rouge, La.-area home sales were up 18% in January compared to the year before when numbers likely were affected by a federal government shutdown.