Andy Walden

Mortgage Activity Suffered Under High Rates In August

Posted on by TMN Editor
Mortgage activity dipped in August as rates reached new highs and inventory remained low, according to Black Knight’s latest Mortgage Monitor report. The 30-year conforming soared above 7.25% last month, its highest level in more than 20 years, before cooling down to 7.07%. As a result, overall rate lock volumes sank for a third straight month, down 1.5% from July.  “August was another rough month for mortgage borrowers from an interest rate perspective,” said Andy Walden, VP of enterprise research and strategy at Black Knight. “Rates did edge down toward the end of August, but prospective homebuyers still face the least affordable housing market in nearly 40 years.” The biggest driver was purchase volume, which fell almost a full 2%…

Rate Lock Volumes Slipped In July As Rates Surged

Posted on by TMN Editor
Rate lock volumes sank in July as mortgage rates exceeded 7% for the first time since November 2022. Black Knight’s Optimal Blue Mortgage Market Indices for July found that 30-year conforming rates cross 7% early in the month before bouncing down and up again, ultimately ending the month at 6.88%. In line with rising rates, lock volumes dipped 7% from June. “While they moved around a bit in July, there was no escaping the fact that conforming 30-year rates topped 7% in July for the first time since they spiked last fall,” said Andy Walden, vice president of enterprise research and strategy at Black Knight. “On both a practical and psychological level, that put further downward pressure on mortgage demand.…