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The groups said the existing framework after the financial crisis was designed to strengthen banks’ resilience. But they argue that the mortgage market has changed significantly since then. Reforms such as the Ability-to-Repay and Qualified Mortgage rules now limit risky features such as negative amortization, option ARMs, interest-only loans, and mortgages without documentation. Banks’ participation […]
“Mortgage rates fell, with the 30-year fixed rate falling to 6.17%, and all other loan types in the survey also fell. Refinancing applications rose for all loan types, marking the strongest week for refinancing since mid-January. Overall, however, there was a decline in purchase applications, although VA purchase applications bucked the trend and rose 4%.” […]
According to her, regulators should investigate whether prudential standards have contributed to the contraction and whether the standards reflect the actual risks. “In part, this is due to an overcalibration of capital treatment for these activities, resulting in requirements that are disproportionate to the risk and making mortgage activities too expensive for banks to participate […]
“Mortgage applications were relatively flat last week, but it was a mixed bag across loan types. The 30-year fixed rate was unchanged at 6.21%, and conventional applications fell for both purchases and refinances as borrowers held out for another rate cut or switched to other types of loans,” said Joel Kan, MBA vice president and […]
The availability of conventional loans drove most of the increase, up 2.1% over the month. Availability of government-backed loans – inclusive Federal Housing Administration (FHA), The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and US Department of Agriculture (USDA) programs – increased 0.1%. Within the conventional category, jumbo loan availability increased 2.9%, while conforming loan availability […]
The seasonally adjusted purchase index fell 14% from a week earlier, while the unadjusted purchase index rose 2% from the week before and was 4% higher than the same week a year ago. “Registrations fell last week, reflecting a 14% decline in purchase applications. Winter Storm Fern likely had an impact because much of the […]
A spokesperson for the CDIA wrote HousingWire that the trade group “remains committed to our position that tri-merge promotes data accuracy, market competition and investor confidence.” According to Broeksmit, this criticism comes from ‘the agencies that profit richly from a privileged market position that protects them from competition’ and that operate in a ‘government-granted oligopoly’. […]
Others, however, are likely to face significant regulatory hurdles. Proposals involving penalty-free 401(k) withdrawals and restrictions for institutional homebuyers would require action from Congress, industry experts say. In particular, a ban on large investors purchasing single-family homes would likely fall outside the budget reconciliation process, meaning it would require 60 votes in the Senate — […]
In one separate messagePulte said the FHFA “has received the Association of Mortgage Bankers (MBA) letter regarding concerns with the credit bureaus” and had been in contact with the bureaus. The FHFA did not immediately respond HousingWire‘s request for comment. The MBA’s concerns, which were expressed in a letter to Pulte on December 12, 2025, […]
On an unadjusted basis, the index fell 6% compared to the previous week. The refinancing index fell 6% from the previous week and was 110% higher than the same week a year ago. The refinance share of mortgage activity rose to 59.1% of total applications from 59.0% the week before. The seasonally adjusted purchasing index […]
