Applications for purchase loans sag for first time in 2024

Firming up of mortgage rates finally catches up with homebuyer demand, with applications for purchase loans falling by a seasonally adjusted 11 percent last week, MBA survey shows. Continue reading

Homebuyers continue to take advantage of falling rates

Demand for purchase mortgages has picked up in five out of the past six weeks, and applications to refinance have roared back, jumping 27 percent from a year ago. Continue reading

Impact of ‘lock-in effect’ on listings may have been overstated

Fannie Mae researchers say rising mortgage rates aren’t the only reason homeowners have been reluctant to sell, and rates coming back down won’t necessarily produce a flood of for-sale listings. Continue reading

Mortgage rates fall — but so does demand, breaking 4-week streak

As mortgage rates continue to retreat from 2022 highs, all eyes will be on Federal Reserve as policymakers conduct their final meeting of the year next week. Continue reading

Demand for purchase loans up slightly for first time in 7 weeks

Purchase loan applications rose 1 percent last week despite latest Fed rate hike, but homebuyer demand for mortgages remained close to 2015 lows, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association. Continue reading

List prices are finally starting to fall

Nearly 1 in 5 homesellers dropped their listing price during the four-week period ending May 22, a high watermark unmatched since October 2019, according to a new report from Redfin. Continue reading

Builder confidence ends 2021 strong

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo Housing Market Index increased for the fourth consecutive month, to 84 in December, marking a high for the year last seen in February. Continue reading

Despite cooling housing market, pending sales continue to climb

During the four-week period ending Sept. 5, pending sales rose 6 percent from a year earlier, according to a report released Wednesday by Redfin. Continue reading