Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, September 22. The House passed a bill to keep the government open and prevent a debt default, but Senate Republicans will likely block it. The Taliban asked to participate in the U.N. General Assembly this week to gain international representation. The DOJ and six states are challenging American Airline’s partnership with JetBlue, alleging it violates anti-trust laws. And in mortgage and housing news… Mortgage Loan Apps Up: Mortgage loan application volume rose 4.9% last week, the MBA weekly survey found. Anthony Casa Abuse: The case of Anthony Casa, the AIME Chair who threatened and sexually harassed a competitor’s wife last year, perfectly demonstrates the difficulty of holding individuals accountable, Christine Lenzo writes. August Housing Starts: …
Mortgage loan application volume rose 4.9% last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly survey reports. Unadjusted, the purchase index increased 16% over last week. Mortgage application volume fell by 1.9%, with purchase applications rising 2%. On an unadjusted basis, purchase applications increased 12% over the week before, 13% lower than the year before. The share of refinance applications rose 7% and was 5% lower year-over-year. The numbers are in line with an upward trend that began last week when loan applications bounced back from a low point. “There was a resurgence in mortgage applications the week after Labor Day, with activity overall at its highest level in over a month, and purchase applications jumping to a high last seen…
Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, September 21. The U.S. is easing travel bans, but will require foreign nationals to show proof of vaccination before entering the country. The Biden administration is raising the cap on refugee admissions to 125,000. A doctor who publicly admitted to performing an abortion after six weeks is being sued, the first case filed under Texas’ controversial abortion law. And in mortgage and housing news… New Home Purchases Down: MBA’s Builder Application Survey data for August 2021 shows mortgage applications for new home purchases increased from July but fell year-over-year. Commissions Under Investigation: Home sale commissions are under investigation by the Biden administration, which has asked the Federal Trade Commission to adopt rules to address any…
Good Morning! Today is Friday, September 17. Elizabeth Warren sent letters to 12 regional Fed presidents asking them to ban ownership of individual stocks among top officials at their banks. The World Bank canceled their “Doing Business” report after an investigation found that management tried to alter data. The Justice Department is fighting against a settlement that would prevent citizens from suing the Sackler family. And in mortgage and housing news… No Bias in Mortgage Biz?: Researchers from the American Enterprise Institute Housing Institute claim studies alleging racial bias in mortgage ignore outcomes that undermine their arguments. Rent Growth Tops Home Prices: Rent growth overtook home price growth in August, a Realtor.com report found. Sales Down In August: Redfin reported…
United Wholesale Mortgage (UWM) is launching an in-house appraisal service, giving its brokers an alternative to appraisal management companies (AMC) starting October 1. The program gives UWM the ability to handle the appraisal on its own by contracting directly with appraisers. UWM CEO Mat Ishbia said AMCs are “middlemen” that cause unnecessary delays in the lending process. “We understand how important it is for independent mortgage brokers to get a fast and efficient appraisal on their borrowers’ home,” Ishbia said. “This new team will be using state of the art technology, making it faster and easier, so brokers and borrowers can get the elite client service they deserve and expect from UWM.” AMCs are regulated by state agencies and are required…
Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, September 15. Californians voted not to recall Gov. Gavin Newsom. Senate Democrats proposed a compromise voting rights bill that includes voter ID requirements. Facebook documents reportedly show Instagram is harmful to teenage girls. North Korea violated U.N. resolutions by testing two ballistic missiles. And in mortgage and housing news… Purchase Applications Up: MBA’s weekly survey showed mortgage applications bouncing back from last week’s low, driven by purchase applications. Debt Burdens: More than half of non-homeowners say their student debt delayed them from buying a home, a NAR poll found. PSPA Provisions Suspended: FHFA and the Department of the Treasury suspended certain provisions from the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements, FHFA announced in a press release. Delinquencies…
Mortgage loan application volume bounced back from last week’s low, rising 0.3%, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly survey. Purchase mortgage activity grew 8%, driving the increase. Last week’s numbers hit their lowest point since Mid-July, largely due to a 3% drop in refinancing. Refi dropped another 3% this week, but purchase mortgage applications made up for it, reaching their highest level since April. “Compared to the same week last September, which was right in the middle of a significant upswing in home purchases, applications were down 11%– the smallest year-over-year decline in 14 weeks,” said Joel Kan, associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting. The average loan size for a purchase application also rose, to $396,800.…
Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, September 14. Californians vote on whether to recall Governor Gavin Newsom today. Chevron pledged to spend $10 billion in its new low-carbon unit, focusing on biofuels and hydrogen production. A Wall Street Journal investigation found that Facebook exempts high-profile users from its content rules. And in mortgage and housing news… Good News For Struggling Borrowers: The total number of loans in forbearance took a nosedive this week, with numbers down in every category. Cash-Outs Soar: Black Knight’s latest Originations Market Monitor report showed cash-out refinancing rose 41% in the last three months, while overall rate locks for mortgage originations increased in August. MHCs: Freddie Mac rolled out new tenant protections for manufactured home owners who rent the land they live on. Breathing Room: Ginnie Mae is…
Good Morning! Today is Monday, September 13. Democratic Senators returning from a week long break are considering a compromise on the $3.5 trillion spending bill. The Federal Reserve said continuing inflation comes from unusually high prices for goods like electronics and cars. Supreme Court Judge Amy Coney Barrett said she’s worried the public sees the Court as a partisan body, while refusing to comment on the unsigned Texas abortion ruling. And in mortgage and housing news… Bidding-War Rates Hit New Low: A Redfin analysis found 58.8% of home offers faced competition, the lowest rate in 2021. Forbearances Down: After dropping last week, the total number of mortgages in active forbearance declined another 2% this week, according to Black Knight. Love Letters: Prospective homebuyers are writing “love letters” to get an…
Good Morning! Today is Wednesday, September 8. The Taliban named a wanted man on the US terrorism list as interior minister. Bitcoin selloff has cooled after a flash crash yesterday erased billions in its value. RFK’s widow Ethel Kennedy says his assassin, Sirhan Sirhan, should not be released from prison in California. And in mortgage and housing news… Mortgage Applications Down: Mortgage applications are down again this week, with refi applications dropping 3%, according to the MBA’s latest survey. Forbearances Down, Too: The MBA reported that number of loans in forbearance fell from 3.25% to 3.23%. Residential Construction Gains: Residential construction, especially multi-family properties, grew in suburban and small metro urban core markets during Q2, NAHB’s Home Building Geography Index reported. Ginnie Mae-king…
