Purchase

As home prices set new records, a shift in consumer attitude led to fewer bidding wars and a growing number of listings, according to Zillow and Redfin.

But the government-sponsored enterprise raised its total origination volume forecast for 2021 based on slightly stronger than expected refinance activity.

Changed borrower psychology and the severe housing inventory shortage dropped lending activity across the board, according to Black Knight.

Rising sea levels aren’t keeping buyers from scooping up oceanfront homes as work flexibility gives consumers wider options on where to live, according to Redfin.

While a growing share of consumers feel optimistic about the economic recovery underway, the extreme seller’s market made the majority of prospective borrowers pessimistic for only the second time in 10 years, according to Fannie Mae.

Refinancings more than doubled the year-ago amount and made up for the slowed purchase activity, according to Attom Data Solutions.

The reopening of the economy may only go so far toward reversing the intensified shift toward building in areas with longer commutes.

Housing value growth in April hit a 15-year high as the inventory squeeze created gridlock between baby boomer sellers and millennial buyers, according to CoreLogic.

The increasing regulatory costs may give the Biden administration reason to encourage the rollback of some zoning restrictions that hamper construction.

Average days to close dropped closer to pre-pandemic levels in April, according to ICE Mortgage Technology.