The average mortgage rate ticked down again this week, but waning banking sector concerns have rates seesawing.
Officials at Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.32%, down from 6.42% the week prior.
A year ago at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 4.67%.
The 15-year fixed-rate mortgage dipped from 5.68% to 5.56%. A year ago, it averaged 3.83%.
“Economic uncertainty continues to bring mortgage rates down,” said Sam Khater, Freddie Mac’s Chief Economist.
“Over the last several weeks, declining rates have brought borrowers back to the market but, as the spring homebuying season gets underway, low inventory remains a key challenge for prospective buyers.”
Some buyers returned to the market early in order to snag a…
Buying a house became slightly more affordable in Q1 2023 as the housing market remains stalled, but remained out of reach for many Americans.
According to ATTOM Data Solution’s Q1 2023 U.S. Home Affordability Report, median-priced single-family homes and condos were less affordable in the first quarter of 2023 compared to historical averages in 94% of counties. This is a huge leap from the 62% of counties that were less affordable at the same time last year.
The portion of average wages it takes to pay major homeownership costs decreased slightly to 30%. While this is still unaffordable by most lending standards, it’s a minor improvement from the 31% registered at year-end 2022.
ATTOM calls this housing data a “mixed…
Mortgage applications increased for a fourth week, inching up as home price indicators show decelerating growth.
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey says the adjusted Market Composite Index – a measure of mortgage loan application volume – rose by 2.9%, close to last week’s 3% increase.
Adjusted purchase applications increased by 2%, while the unadjusted index was up 2% from the week before and 35% lower YOY.
Mortgage rates fell slightly, with the average interest rate for 30-year fixed loans down from 6.48% to 6.45%. This is the lowest level in more than a month.
“While the 30-year fixed rate remained 1.65 percentage points higher than a year ago, homebuyers responded, leading to a fourth straight increase in purchase applications,”…
Rene Gonzales has been promoted to Chief Technology Officer at Cenlar FSB, the company announced in a press release.
Cenlar FSB is headquartered in New Jersey and services loans nationally. It is an employee-owned company with about 3,000 workers.
“I look forward to being the CTO and continuing our efforts to deploy innovative technology that demonstrates value to the company and our clients and their homeowners,” Gonzales said.
Gonzales brings a strong background in IT to the position. His previous experience includes leadership roles at PHH Mortgage, Altisource, Ocwen Financial, and Ally Financial. He joined Cenlar FSB in 2018.
As CTO, Gonzales will provide strategic tech leadership to Cenlar’s business units, partnering with leaders to leverage technology to generate value.…
American Mortgage Network is on the hunt for loan officers and processors in key U.S. geographic areas.
The mortgage banker has hired three new recruiting executives– TraVaughn Paschal, George DeMare, and Rick Humphery– to lead the initiative.
“With so many mortgage lenders forced to adjust their workforces or shut down completely, many talented loan officers and processors are out of work. These professionals are excited by the challenge and opportunity of joining an employee-owned company that is expanding its footprint throughout the United States,” noted AmNet President and CEO Joseph S. Restivo.
The announcement comes on the heels of another major mortgage banker layoff at Wells Fargo.
Hundreds of employees were affected, including some top originators who had just returned…
Pending home sales rose for the first time since May, breaking a six-month streak of declines, according to the National Association of Realtors.
The Pending Home Sales Index increased by 2.5% between November and December. Year-over-year it dropped by 33.8%, an improvement over November’s 37%.
All four regions saw pending sales fall YOY, but the South and West saw gains month-over-month.
“This recent low point in home sales activity is likely over,” said NAR Chief Economist Lawrence Yun. “Mortgage rates are the dominant factor driving home sales, and recent declines in rates are clearly helping to stabilize the market.”
Mortgage rates fell again last week to 6.13%, drawing some buyers back to the market.
Purchase loan applications increased again as…
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The Biden-Harris administration announced new actions to protect renters this week and leaders at the U.S. Department of…
Home seller return on investment rose to 51% at the end of 2022 despite slowing sales, new data from ATTOM shows.
Sellers nationwide earned $112,000 on the typical sale in 2022, up 21% from 2021 and 78% from before the pandemic.
Both raw profits and ROI have now improved across the country for 11 consecutive years.
Ninety-eight percent of markets with enough data to analyze saw profits increase from 2021 to 2022. The latest number is the highest profit level seen by home sellers since at least 2008.
Sellers in Southern and Western markets saw the highest ROI, led by Hilo, HI (100% ROI); Lake Havasu City-Kingman, AZ (88.4%); Spokane, WA (86.2%); Fort Myers, FL (85.4%) and Port St. Lucie,…
Mortgage loan application volume increased again last week, continuing a trend of rising demand as mortgage rates slip.
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s weekly survey showed the adjusted Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, rose by 7%.
The results included an adjustment for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
Refinances drove the increase, up 15% from the week prior as mortgage rates fell to 6.2%, their lowest level since September.
They remain 77% lower than the same time last year, however, comprising only 31.9% of total applications. In the past decade, refis averaged 58% of total activity.
Purchase demand saw a boost as well, though not as drastic. Applications increased at a seasonally adjusted rate of 3%, but…
By SCOTT KIMBLER Three leaders in the mortgage industry recently got together to discuss the challenges for lenders in 2023. A webinar was hosted by Augie Del Rio, founder and CEO of Gallus Insights. It included Rob Chrisman, capital markets consultant and founder of the Chrisman Commentary, as well as Tammy Richards, CEO of LendArch. All three lending veterans had various thoughts on what mortgage lenders need to do to not only survive in the current volatile mortgage market but also thrive in the down economy. “We are experiencing one of the most significant downturns in decades,” Del Rio said. “We are kind of all at the crossroads of the perfect storm. We are experiencing the fastest rising rate environment…
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