The Community Home Lenders Association (CHLA) sent a letter to FHFA Acting Director Sandra Thompson asking for adjustments to upcoming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fee increases. On January 5, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced “targeted increases” on upfront fees for certain high balance loans and second home loans, to go into effect April 1. Its stated goal is to “minimize market and pipeline disruption.” “These targeted pricing changes will allow the Enterprises to better achieve their mission of facilitating equitable and sustainable access to homeownership, while improving their regulatory capital position over time,” Thompson said in a press release. “Today’s action represents another step FHFA is taking to strengthen the Enterprises’ safety and soundness and to ensure…
Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, January 26. Federal prosecutors are reviewing fake Electoral College certifications that declared former President Donald Trump the winner of states that he lost. Former Boston Red Sox star David Ortiz has been elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. The Mortgage Note Reports House Price Index: House prices rose 1.1% nationwide in November, according to the latest FHFA House Price Index. HUNT COO: HUNT Mortgage Corporation has hired Bindiya Jain of Shrewsbury, Massachusetts as its Chief Operating Officer. And in other mortgage and housing news… The Fate Of Zillow: Zillow’s near-term fate “hinges upon a delicate market balance the likes of which we’ve never quite seen,” Laura Forman argues in the Wall Street Journal.…
Home prices across the country rose 1.1% month-over-month in November and 17.5% year-over-year, according to the latest Federal Housing Finance Agency House Price Index (FHFA HPI®). For the nine census divisions, seasonally adjusted monthly house price changes ranged from +0.5 percent in the West North Central division to +1.9 percent in the South Atlantic division. The 12-month changes ranged from +13.3 percent in the West North Central division to +22.8 percent in the Mountain division. “House price levels remained elevated in November, but the data indicate a pivot,” said Will Doerner, Ph.D., Supervisory Economist in FHFA’s Division of Research and Statistics. “The last four months reflect average gains of 1.0 percentage point, down from the larger prior changes during the…
Good Morning! Today is Monday, January 24. Biden is considering sending troops to Eastern Europe in response to fears of a Russian incursion into Ukraine. Virginia’s Republican attorney general fired a top Jan. 6 investigator from his job at the University of Virginia. The Kansas City Chiefs beat the Buffalo Bills, and the LA Rams beat the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. TMN REPORTS: Finding A Mortgage On Your Phone: The typical American spends between five and six hours a day on their mobile phone, so mortgage companies are developing new technologies to help them meet consumers where they are. Freddie Mac Forecast: Purchases Up, ReFi’s Down in 2022: Freddie Mac’s latest Quarterly Forecast predicts that rising rates will lead to moderation in…
Both rent and mortgage payment price growth reached record highs in December, according to a new report from Redfin. Rents jumped to $1,877, 14.1% year-over-year (YOY) and the largest annual jump since at least February 2019, the earliest month in Redfin’s data. The national monthly mortgage payment rose 21.6% YOY, also the largest increase in Redfin’s data history. “The growth in mortgage payments has been driven by both climbing prices and climbing mortgage rates,” said Redfin Chief Economist Daryl Fairweather. “And those rising mortgage costs push more potential homebuyers into renting instead, which pushes up demand and prices for rentals. Mortgage rate increases are accelerating, which will cause both mortgage payments and rent to grow throughout 2022.” The 30-year fixed-rate…
Mortgage lenders should expect a small uptick in home purchases, while refi’s fall off the fiscal cliff. That’s the finding of the latest Freddie Mac’s latest Quarterly Forecast. Housing demand is expected to remain high, with home sales forecast to reach 6.9 million in 2022, then 7 million in 2023. “As mortgage rates rise, we do expect some moderation in housing demand, causing house price growth to temper. However, the combination of a large number of entry-level homebuyers facing a shortage of entry-level inventory of homes for sale should keep the housing market competitive,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “In 2022, we expect purchase originations to grow from $1.9 trillion in 2021 to $2.1 trillion in 2022 while…
Good Morning! Today is Friday, January 21. Legendary rockstar Meat Loaf has died. Congressional Democrats urged Biden to overhaul the criteria for drone strikes, citing “repeated civilian casualties.” The Supreme Court let the Texas abortion law stay in effect, rejecting a request for quick action. In mortgage and housing news… TMN Reports: The average person is feeling the effects of inflation along with rising interest rates and some experts say that can be traced back to investors on Wall Street. TMN Reports: Mortgage rates continue to rise, reaching an average of 3.56% this week, Freddie Mac reported. TMN Reports: As forbearance exits yet again hit an expected mid-month slowdown, resulting in an increase in active plans, according to Black Knight’s…
Mortgage rates continue to rise, up to an average of 3.56% from 3.45%, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. Freddie’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 3.56%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 2.77%. “Mortgage rates moved up again as the 10-year U.S. Treasury yield rose and financial markets adjusted to anticipated changes in monetary policy that will combat inflation,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist. “As a result of higher mortgage rates, purchase demand has modestly waned in advance of the spring homebuying season. However, supply remains near historically tight levels and home prices remain high, keeping the market competitive.” Inventory reached a record low in December, down 19.5%…
Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, January 19. Microsoft is buying Activision Blizzard in a $75 billion deal. Gilead Sciences is accusing suppliers and distributors of selling fake versions of its HIV medications. The House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot issued subpoenas to Rudy Giuliani and three other Trump allies involved in efforts to overturn the 2020 election results. And in mortgage and housing news… Finding A Place For Fido: As pet owners think about what their next move will be if they have to sell their homes due to the economic backlash of the pandemic, some organizations are advocating for increasing options for renters with dogs and cats. Forbearances Down: The total number of loans now in forbearance fell…
Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, January 18. China’s economy grew by only 4% in Q4 2021, worrying the international community. Communications to Tonga are still fraught after a volcanic eruption in the Pacific, hampering aid. Airlines warned of grounded flights this week if AT&T and Verizon deploy more 5G technology, which they say interferes with altitude readings. And in mortgage and housing news… Is Home Ownership More Affordable Than Renting? A report released this month suggests that despite rising home prices it is more affordable to own a median-priced home than to rent a three-bedroom property in a majority of the United States, but it all depends on where you live. Slumping Home Sales: December homes sales saw their largest…
