Mortgage originations hit a three-and-a-half-year high in the fourth quarter of last year, as year-low mortgage rates boosted refinance activity, new industry data found. Processing Content An estimated 565,000 first-lien refinances closed in the fourth quarter, up about 50% from a year prior and the most since the second quarter of 2022. This pushed total […]
Originations hit 3.5-year high in Q4 boosted by refinancing Read More »
Taking advantage of falling interest rates, largely spurred by narrowing primary-secondary spreads resulting from a White House pronouncement, consumers stepped up rate lock activity, while lenders added products in January, separate reports noted. Processing Content On Jan. 8, Pres. Trump ordered Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to purchase $200 billion of mortgage-backed securities. This came
Mortgage rate dip ignites refi boom in January Read More »
Affordability continues to improve in 2026, with home-price growth flattening and mortgage rates nearing 6%. Processing Content Early January declines in rates helped push affordability to a four-year high, as the monthly principal and interest payment needed to purchase the average-priced home dropped 7%, or $164, year over year to $2,091, reducing the share of
Affordability hits 4-year high as rates near 6% Read More »
National Mortgage News is pleased to announce the launch of the 2025 Top Producers Survey. Processing Content IMPORTANT: All entries MUST be completed by the individual loan officer or company representative. Unless noted, a response is required for all questions. Click here to access the online survey. The deadline for all submissions is 6 p.m.
Nominations open for 2026 Top Producers Read More »
Mortgage rates dropped almost 50 basis points in the third quarter, prompting more borrowers to refinance and retention rates on those customers to hit a three-and-a-half-year high, new industry data showed. Refinance retention reached 28% last quarter, the highest percentage since early 2022, and servicers held onto more than half of borrowers refinancing out of
Lower mortgage rates lift refi retention to 3.5-year high Read More »
Refinancing slowed down in October after consecutive months of dramatic spikes, pushing down rate-lock activity. Rate locks fell 4.2% to 122 from September to October, but were still up 18% on a year-over-year basis, according to Optimal Blue’s latest Market Advantage mortgage data report. Purchase locks decreased 1.5% last month, following seasonal trends, while rate-and-term
Refi spike tapers off despite falling rates Read More »
The number of homeowners who can reduce their monthly payments by refinancing hit a multi-year high as mortgage rates continue to weaken, new industry data found. The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage fell to 6.17% the last week of October, and as a result, the number of highly qualified refinance candidates, homeowners with at least a 720
Refi opportunities hit 3-year high as rates ease Read More »
Homeowners are seeing smaller profits from sales compared to a year ago, but the latest numbers still surpass pre-pandemic levels, as growing numbers hold onto their properties amid surging equity accrual. Sellers gained an average of 49.9% in profit after transactions closed during the third quarter, according to the latest home sales report from real
Homeowners see slimmer profits from third-quarter sales Read More »
The latest refi boomlet sustained its momentum that showed up in late summer, with rate drops driving a noticeable spike in September lock volume, according to Optimal Blue. Rate locks jumped 28.2% from August to September, the product-pricing engine platform said in its latest market advantage report, and drove its monthly market index to a
Lower rates fuel big September refi spike Read More »
Total mortgage origination volume is projected to surpass $2 trillion by the end of the year for the first time since 2022, according to a recent forecast. The milestone is driven by a 48% jump in refinance dollars and 12% spike in purchase dollars, an overall 20% increase from last year, according to iEmergent’s 2025–2027
Forecast calls for originations to surpass $2 trillion this year Read More »