Morning Roundup (4/20/2022)– Customers For Life, Application Freefall

Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, April 20. Wimbledon is planning to bar tennis players from Russia and Belarus from this year’s tournament. President Biden said Americans should decide for themselves whether to wear masks on public transportation. Netflix lost subscribers for the first time in more than a decade, and its stock fell. The Mortgage Note Reports A Customer For Life: Editor Kimberley Haas reports that Guild Mortgage’s success is the result of their long-term dedication to customers. Application Freefall: Mortgage loan application volume plummeted by 5% last week as rates reached 5.20%, their highest level since 2010. Rent Record: Rent prices continued their double-digit gains in February, rising 13.1% YOY to hit another new record as the highest in the history of CoreLogic’s index. And…

Applications Plummet As Rates Hit Highest Point Since 2010

Mortgage loan application volume plummeted by 5% last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly survey shows. The adjusted Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, dropped by 5%. The adjusted purchase index fell by 3%, while the unadjusted purchase index fell by 2% and was 14% lower YOY. The refinance index fell 8% and was down 68% YOY. Refinances made up 35.7% of total applications, down from 37.1%. Mortgage rates reached 5.20%, the highest level since 2010. “Ongoing concerns about rapid inflation and tighter US monetary policy continued to push Treasury yields higher, driving mortgage rates to their highest level in over a decade,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting. …

Morning Roundup (4/15/2022)– Home Sales Offer “Early Signs Of A Slowdown”

Good Morning! Today is Friday, April 15. A judge ordered the suspect in the Brooklyn subway shooting to be detained until his trial. Elon Musk made a bid to buy Twitter for about $43 billion. The company’s board is considering a plan to thwart him. A Russian warship sank in the Black Sea. The Mortgage Note Reports “Early Signs Of A Slowdown”: Home sales dropped by 4% last month and 8% YOY, closing out the hottest March ever with signs of a potential cooldown. Historic Rates: Mortgage rates averaged 5% for the first time in a decade last week. Spread The Word: Do you enjoy our newsletter? Share this email with a friend so they can visit our website and…

March Home Sales Dropped 4% From Feb, Sign Of A Potential Slowdown

Home sales dropped by 4% last month and 8% YOY, closing out a fast-paced March with signs of a potential cooldown, Redfin reported. Homes sold at their fastest pace ever and for more above list price than any other March in history. The median home-sale price rose 6.2% to $412,700, a record high and the fastest month-over-month gain for this time of year since 2013. But seasonally adjusted home sales fell 4% thanks to severe inventory shortages, rising rates, and accelerating home prices. Seasonally adjusted active listings—the count of all homes that were for sale at any time during the month—fell 13% YOY to an all-time low. “Although pricey coastal markets began showing early signs of a slowdown in late…

Mortgage Rates Average 5%

Mortgage rates averaged 5% flat last week, up from 4.72%, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. Freddie’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 5%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.04%. “This week, mortgage rates averaged five percent for the first time in over a decade,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  “As Americans contend with historically high inflation, the combination of rising mortgage rates, elevated home prices and tight inventory are making the pursuit of homeownership the most expensive in a generation.” Home prices continue growing despite hope for a cool down this year due to mortgage rate increases pricing many out of the market and reducing competition. For…

Loan Applications Fall Again As Rates Exceed 5%

Mortgage loan application volume fell another 1.3% last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly survey shows. The adjusted Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, dropped by 1.3%. The adjusted purchase index rose by 1%, while the unadjusted purchase index rose by 2% and was 6% lower YOY. The refinance index fell 5% and was down 62% YOY. Refinances made up 37.1% of total applications, down from 38.8%. The 30-year fixed-rate hit 5.13%, the highest since November 2018, resulting in refis falling to their slowest weekly pace since 2019. “Higher rates are increasing borrower interest in ARMs. Their share of applications last week was at 7.4%, which was the highest share since June 2019,”  said Joel…

Morning Roundup (4/12/2022)– Fast 15 Guarantee, Mortgage Monitor

Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, April 12. After meeting with Vladimir Putin, Austria’s chancellor said he feared Russia would intensify the brutality of its attacks. U.S. stocks fell Monday as Covid-19 lockdowns in China added to investors’ worries. Thirteen people have been transported to area hospitals after a shooting at a Brooklyn subway station. The Mortgage Note Reports Fast 15 Guarantee: Rocket Pro TPO is promising to clear eligible loans in no more than 15 business days and leaders there say they are able to guarantee these closing times because of the company’s investment in technology. Editor Kimberley Haas reports. Mortgage Monitor: Rate lock activity rose 19.1% month-over-month in March as homeowners move before interest rates rise further. IMB Profits…

Morning Roundup (4/11/2022)– Office Space Vacancies, Vacation Home Demand

Good Morning! Today is Monday, April 11. Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Dwayne Haskins was killed by a dump truck while trying to cross a highway on foot in South Florida. Biden will announce a new firearm regulation Monday meant to contain the use of privately made weapons. Elon Musk has decided not to join the board of Twitter. The Mortgage Note Reports Office Space Vacancies: Writer Chuck Green reports that office vacancy rates are being monitored closely as the commercial space industry continues to grapple with COVID’s effects on the workplace. Vacation Home Demand: Second-home demand fell for a second straight month as rising rates and increased fees deter buyers. Better Loses Another Exec: Better.com CTO Diane Yu is stepping back…

Morning Roundup (4/8/2022)– Rates Rise, Forbearances Improve

Good Morning! Today is Friday, April 8. The Senate confirmed Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court. She will be the 116th justice and first Black woman on the Court. The New York attorney general asked a judge to hold Trump in contempt for not turning over documents in an investigation. The Mortgage Note Reports Mortgage Rates Up Again: Mortgage rates rose to an average of 4.72%, up from last week’s 4.67%, continuing their climb towards 5%. Forbearance Improvements: Early April exits offset two weeks of rising forbearance starts and re-starts, resulting in plan volumes dropping below 700,000 for the first time since the pandemic began. And in other mortgage and housing news… Credit Availability Down: Mortgage credit availability…

Rates Continue Climb Toward 5%

Mortgage rates rose to an average of 4.72%, up from last week’s 4.67%, Freddie Mac reported Thursday. Freddie’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) found that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 4.72%. A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 3.13%. “Mortgage rates have increased 1.5 percentage points over the last three months alone, the fastest three-month rise since May of 1994,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.  “The increase in mortgage rates has softened purchase activity such that the monthly payment for those looking to buy a home has risen by at least 20 percent from a year ago.” The daily fixed rate crossed 5% this week for the first time since 2011, save two days…