Good Morning! Today is Friday, December 7. President Biden accused Donald Trump of spreading a “web of lies about the 2020 election.” The Supreme Court will hear arguments today in cases challenging the Biden administration’s vaccine mandates. Canada’s ban on conversion therapy takes effect today. And in mortgage and housing news… Rates Climb: Mortgage rates rose to their highest level since May 2020, up to an average of 3.22%, Freddie Mac reported. Forbearances Improve: Active forbearance plans dropped by 8% in the first week of January, according to Black Knight’s blog, Vision. December Jobs: The US economy added just 199,000 jobs in December, far below economists’ expectations of 422,000 gains. FHFA Changes Explained: The FHFA this week announced loan-level price…
Active forbearance plans dropped by 73,000 (-8%) in the first week of January, according to Black Knight’s blog, Vision. The number of loans in forbearance fell across all categories, led by a 30,000 plan decrease in FHA/VA loans (-10%). Forbearances on loans held by portfolios and PSLs fell by 17,000 (-8%) and GSE loans fell by 27,000 (-19%). The number of active plans is down 123,000 (-13%) from last month. Additional declines are expected with 61,000 plans still listed as extension/removal in December 2021, of which 25,000 are expected to expire. An additional 186,000 plans are up for extension or removal in January, though less a third are expected to expire. Forbearance plan starts ticked up once again, continuing a…
Good Morning! Today is Thursday, January 6. It’s the anniversary of the January 6 riot, and President Biden will speak today on steps to strengthen democracy in the US. A Philadelphia fire left at least thirteen dead and two hospitalized. The CDC recommended Pfizer boosters for children aged twelve and up. And in mortgage and housing news… Check Out The Photos!: These are the most expensive homes in 2022’s hottest housing markets. Second Home Demand Stays High: December demand for vacation homes topped pre-pandemic levels by 77% as affluent Americans continue to take advantage of remote work and low-interest rates. But it’s so hard to get into the game, some people are comparing it to finding their way into an…
Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, December 21. President Biden will give a speech today outlining his plans to combat the Omicron variant. Omicron accounts for about 75% of new cases in the US. The E.P.A. will require new cars to get 55 miles per gallon starting in 2026. And in mortgage and housing news… Forbearances Improved In November: The total number of loans in forbearance fell from 2.06% of servicers’ portfolio volume to 1.67% in November, according to MBA’s Loan Monitoring Survey. ESR Expectations Change: Commentary from Fannie’s ESR Group showed the year ending on a strong note, with 2021 total home sales for rising 7.1%, but lowered its prediction for 2022’s GDP due to inflation concerns. CFPB, DOJ Warning…
The Fannie Mae Economic and Strategic Research (ESR) Group boosted its expectation for full-year 2021 economic growth to 5.5% in its December commentary, up 0.7% from November’s projection. The group cited “stronger-than-anticipated consumer spending and inventory investment data” as the reason for its revised projection. Total home sales are now expected to increase 7.1% in 2021 rather than 5.3%. Total mortgage originations are expected to be $4.5 trillion, up from $4.4 trillion. But it also revised its 2022 expectations, downgrading its 2022 growth forecast from 3.7% to 3.2%. Though recent data appears strong, the group noted it “likely reflects a pull-forward of activity from the first half of 2022 and is unlikely to be sustained.” Inflation is the primary reason…
The total number of loans in forbearance fell from 2.06% of servicers’ portfolio volume to 1.67% in November, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Loan Monitoring Survey. MBA estimates 835,000 homeowners are currently in forbearance plans. Independent mortgage banks saw a 0.34% decline from 2.28% to 1.94%, while depositories saw a 0.5% drop from 2.02% to 1.52%. The share of forborne Fannie and Freddie loans fell to 0.76%, down by 16 basis points, while Ginnie Mae loans fell to 2.10%, down 42 basis points. PLS and portfolio loans in forbearance dropped by 106 basis points to 3.94%. “The share of loans in forbearance in November declined – albeit at a slower pace than October – as borrowers continued to…
Lenders don’t feel optimistic about their future profit margins, with 65% reporting they believe their profit margins will shrink in the next three months, according to Fannie Mae’s Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey. The share of lenders who feel pessimistic about future profits rose by 19% from Q3, citing competition from other lenders and changing market trends. If they prove right, next quarter will mark the fifth consecutive quarter of profit declines. “This quarter’s MLSS results suggest that the housing market may be poised to return to a more ‘normal’ state in the new year, following the boom experienced over the past two years due to historically low mortgage rates and pandemic-related changes in homebuyer behavior,” said Fannie Mae Senior Vice…
Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, December 15. Congress passed a measure raising the government’s borrowing limit by $2.5 trillion. Mr. Trump lost his bid to shield his tax returns from the House Ways and Means Committee after a federal judge dismissed the case. Britain’s antitrust regulator said Apple and Google hold a “vise-like grip” over how people use mobile devices, limiting innovation and choice and leading to higher prices. And in mortgage and housing news… Thompson Tapped For Full Term…: President Biden will nominate Sandra Thompson, currently the acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, to a full term at the regulator, the White House announced. …And The Industry Responds: The industry’s response has been largely positive. Mortgage App…
President Biden will nominate Sandra Thompson to become the permanent director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the White House announced in a statement on Tuesday. Thompson is the current acting head of the FHFA, having taken over the position in June when Biden replaced Mark Calabria. She would serve a five-year term after her approval by the Senate. Though Thompson has held the position since June, her nomination was at one point in question. Biden faced criticism in September when rumors spread that he was considering nominating Center for Responsible Lending President Michael Calhoun. Thompson maintained support among Democratic politicians focused on housing, especially House Financial Services Chair Maxine Waters, which may have solidified her position. “We will…
Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, December 14. Members of the Federal Open Market Committee begin their two-day policy-setting meeting today. Larry Nassar’s victims reached a $380 million settlement. The Supreme Court turned down emergency requests by New York healthcare workers for a religious exemption from state requirements to vaccinate against Covid-19. And in mortgage and housing news… Rental Rates Skyrocket: More than a quarter of the states in the country have experienced a rental price increase of 20% or more in 2021 and a senior research analyst says people moving out of cities and into more rural communities are partially to blame. November 2021 Originations: Rate lock volume fell 4.7% month-over-month in November, Black Knight’s latest Originations Market Monitor report…
