Despite no change in historically low mortgage rates, mortgage applications dropped 2.4% last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Weekly Mortgage Application Survey. The MBA said the decline in its seasonally adjusted market composite index tracking mortgage applications was influenced by a 3.8% decline in applications to refinance existing loans. “There was little change in mortgage rates last week, with the 30-year fixed remaining at 3.03 percent. Despite low rates, refinance applications declined, with some borrowers still waiting for rates to drop even lower,” said Joel Kan, MBA’s associate vice president of economic and industry forecasting. “Recent uncertainty around the economy and pandemic have kept rates low over the past month, which is why the refinance index has oscillated…
Good Morning! Today is Tuesday, Aug. 31. The war in Afghanistan ended yesterday when the final US military plane left Kabul. President Biden, who was silent yesterday, is expected to address the nation this afternoon. Hurricane Ida left more than one million people with no electricity or water on the Gulf Coast. California ordered an evacuation along Lake Tahoe due to the Caldor fire.And in mortgage and housing news… Forbearance Numbers Hold: The number of mortgage loans in forbearance remains unchanged from last week, holding at 3.25% according to the latest report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Freddie’s Here To Help: Freddie Mac reminded homeowners and mortgage servicers of its immediate disaster relief options for those affected by Hurricane Ida. In Further Freddie News: Freddie Mac now projects that…
The number of mortgage loans in forbearance remains unchanged from last week, holding at 3.25%, according to the latest numbers from the Mortgage Bankers Association. The report, released yesterday, estimates that 1.6 million homeowners are in forbearance plans. The share of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans in forbearance remained the same relative to the prior week at 1.66%. Ginnie Mae loans in forbearance also remained the same at 3.92%, while the forbearance share for portfolio loans and private-label securities (PLS) increased 3 basis points to 7.18%. The percentage of loans in forbearance for independent mortgage bank (IMB) servicers increased 2 basis points to 3.50%, and the percentage of loans in forbearance for depository servicers was unchanged at 3.35%. But…
Home prices in the major world housing markets that have soared since the COVID-19 pandemic began have likely peaked, but affordability is set to remain stretched or worsen in the next few years, according to a new Reuters poll of experts. Reuters poll of more than 100 property market experts taken Aug. 10-25 covering eight markets – the US, Canada, Britain, India, Australia, New Zealand, China and Dubai – mostly predicted price increases over the next two years would slow. But house price inflation is still expected to outpace wage increases, especially when rising material costs are taken into account. Out of 94 poll respondents, 49% said housing affordability would worsen across all markets in the next few years, and…
Good Morning! Today is Monday, Aug. 30. Hurricane Ida made landfall in Lousiana yesterday, leaving more than a million people without power. The U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan continues, despite multiple reports of American citizens being left behind. The EU seeks to block non-essential travel from the U.S. Millennial professionals are using their savings to take a break from working and explore new career paths. And in mortgage and housing news… Buying Power: Home buyers in June 2021 had 129% more house-buying power than in 2006, according to the June 2021 First American Real House Price Index. Experts Say: A Reuters poll of experts predicts that housing affordability is set to remain stretched or worsen in the next 2-3 years. Ida Makes…
Homebuyers in June 2021 had 129 percent more house-buying power than in 2006, according to the June 2021 First American Real House Price Index (RHPI), released today. “House-buying power, how much one can buy based on changes in income and interest rates, increased by 6.8 percent in June compared with a year ago, propelled by lower mortgage rates and higher household income,” said Mark Fleming, chief economist at First American Financial Corporation, which releases the RHPI. First American is a leading global provider of title insurance, settlement services, and risk solutions for real estate transactions. “The affordability gain from increased house-buying power, however, was offset by the third component of the RHPI, nominal house price appreciation, which reached a record…
Good Morning! Today is Friday, Aug. 27. A terrorist attack at the Kabul airport killed 13 U.S. service members and at least 90 Afghans. President Biden said airlift efforts would continue despite the attack. Capitol Police officers sued former President Trump, along with groups like the Proud Boys, over the January 6 riot, saying they incited violence against officials and police. Hawaii’s Governor David Ige asked travelers to stay home through October as hospitals struggle with rising Covid cases. And in mortgage and housing news… Mat Ishbia’s Bitcoin Play Raises Concerns: UWM CEO Mat Ishbia’s announcement that he intends to accept Bitcoin has raised questions among economists and within the industry about encouraging consumers to rely on the “volatile” cryptocurrency for their mortgage payments.…
Marc Hernandez is the new president of Alterra Home Loans LLC, an independent mortgage bank headquartered in Nevada, the company announced Thursday. Former president and Co-Founder Jason Madiedo appointed Hernandez due to his leadership and contributions as Alterra’s executive vice president of retail lending, according to a press release from the company. “Marc’s a by-product of our culture and a prime example of our commitment to professional growth and grooming our leaders so they can be promoted from within. He knows the mortgage business well, but more importantly, he knows the people side of the business and excels at working well with a wide range of personalities,” said Madiedo. Hernandez joined Alterra in 2015 when he established a branch in Chicago.…
United Wholesale Mortgage CEO Mat Ishbia made headlines with the announcement his company—one of the largest lenders in the U.S.—plans to start accepting Bitcoin as payment for mortgages later this year. “That’s something that we’ve been working on,” Ishbia said, “and we’re excited that hopefully, in Q3, we can actually execute on that before anyone in the country because we are a leader in technology and innovation.” Ishbia’s announcement puts his company on the front line of the debate over the potential dangers of novel techno-currencies like Bitcoin. Bitcoin is among the class of financial products known as “cryptocurrencies,” digital currency systems developed and traded using a variety of computational and security networks. The process of developing and obtaining cryptocurrencies can…
Boulder-based Neat Capital has announced they are offering a $500 discount on home financing to applicants who’ve received the COVID-19 vaccine. Borrowers can present any digital or electronic picture that shows a vaccination record, and applicants are eligible regardless of vaccine manufacturer or number of doses received. Neat Capital has offered to cover costs such as transportation and childcare for applicants who want to be vaccinated but have been unable to do so. Applicants who are unvaccinated because of health or religious reasons are also eligible. Companies like Budweiser and Krispy Kreme have been offering incentives to customers with proof of vaccination, but Neat Capital is the first financial services company to do so. As the pace of vaccinations has…
