While the refinance boom "is coming off the boil," mortgage application data for March has Capital Economics confident that home purchase application volume is in the early stages of a sustainable comeback. Applications for purchase loans rose 4.5 percent from February to March and 11.4 percent over the past year--indicating an upward trend, even if volume is still low by historical standards. March's final week saw a 1 percent bump in the Mortgage Bankers Association's measure of purchase application volume.
Read More »Per-Loan Profits Fall in Q4 as Costs Rise
Rising costs took a toll on per-loan profits in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Independent mortgage banks and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks earned an average profit of $2,256 on each loan originated in Q4, down quarter-over-quarter from $2,465, MBA reported. The decline in profits came despite a rise in production volume. According to MBA, average production volume was $488 million per company in the Q4, up from $450 million in the prior quarter.
Read More »NAHB Throws Support Behind Housing Finance Reform Efforts
The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) endorsed a housing finance system that phases out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac but maintains a degree of federal support.
Read More »Mortgage Applications Increase with Slight Rate Drop
A drop in mortgage rates paved the way for a rise in applications last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported.
Read More »Wells Fargo Ranked Top Originator for Commercial/Multifamily Mortgages
Wells Fargo has another jewel to add to its crown: The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) ranked the bank as the top commercial/multifamily mortgage originator for 2012. Among other categories: Bank of America Merrill Lynch was the top originator for commercial bank loans, while Red Mortgage Capital, LLC was No. 1 for loans guaranteed by Ginnie Mae or the Federal Housing Administration. Cohen Financial was the top originator for specialty finance.
Read More »MBA Promotes Regulatory Expert to VP
David Stevens, president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), announced the promotion of Kenneth Markison, Esq., to VP and regulatory counsel. In his new role, Markison will lead and manage MBA's public policy initiatives around residential loan production, legal issues, and regulatory compliance.
Read More »Application Volume Falls as Rates Hit 7-Month High
Rising interest rates brought down mortgage activity last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA).
Read More »Commercial/Multifamily Debt Up by Largest Amount Since 2008
Commercial and multifamily mortgage debt in Q4 was up by $21.8 billion, or 0.9 percent, from the previous quarter and up $29.7 billion, or 1.2 percent, from the fourth quarter of 2011.
Read More »Mortgage Applications Continue Steady Decline
Mortgage application volume continued to fall last week even as interest rates declined, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.
Read More »Mortgage Applications Fall as Rates Rise to 6-Month High
Mortgage application volume continued to decline last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending February 15. The survey's Market Composite Index, a measure of application volume, fell 1.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from the previous week. On an unadjusted basis, the index fell 1.0 percent. According to the MBA's measure, the average contract interest rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was 3.78 percent last week, the highest rate since August 2012.
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