After a record-breaking year for independent mortgage banks, profits declined by 75 basis points in 2021, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Annual Mortgage Bankers Performance Report. Independent mortgage banks and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks made an average profit of $2,339 on each loan they originated in 2021, down from the record $4,202 per loan in 2020. Average production volume totaled $4.9 billion per company, up from $4.5 billion in 2020. But production expenses took a toll on profits, reaching their highest level since 2008, the first year of MBA’s report. Personnel expenses for sales, fulfillment, and production support all rose while revenues fell. “2021 was another stellar year for independent mortgage bankers, with production profits well above…
Mortgage loan application volume fell by 6.3% to its lowest level since the spring of 2019, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly survey shows. The adjusted Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, dropped by 6.3%. The adjusted purchase index fell by 3%, while the unadjusted purchase index fell by 3% and was 9% lower YOY. The refinance index fell 10% and was down 62% YOY. Refinances made up just 38.8% of total applications, down from 40.6%. Mortgage rates hit 4.90% in their fourth straight week of increases, putting further pressure on dwindling refinances. Rates are now up 1.5 percentage points from the same time last year. “The hot job market and rapid wage growth continue to…
Mortgage loan application volume fell 7.1% from last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) weekly survey reported. The adjusted Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 7.1%. The adjusted purchase index fell 2%, while the unadjusted purchase index fell 5% and was 11% lower YOY. The refinance index fell 13% and was down 53% YOY. Refinances made up 55.8% of total applications. Mortgage rates continue to climb, with the 30-year fixed-rate reaching its highest level since March 2020 last week, 77 basis points above the same time last year. “Unsurprisingly, borrower demand for refinances subsided, with applications falling for the fourth straight week. After almost two years of lower rates, there are not many borrowers left…
Origination activity fell for the fourth consecutive month in December as higher rates and seasonal slowdown pushed rate locks down, according to Black Knight’s December 2021 Origination Market Monitor. Rate locks fell 18.3% from November to December and 35% year-over-year (YOY), fueled by a 22.5% drop in locks on purchase loans and a 17.1% drop in rate/term refinances. Rate/terms refis hit their lowest point in two years at the end of 2021. Locks on cash-out refis also dropped by 10% from November, though they are up 18% YOY thanks to incredible gains in home equity. The share of refinances rose to 48% due to the decline in purchase locks, though average refi credit scores were down 20 points YOY as…
