Tag Archives: Refinance

After examining mortgage application data throughout April, Capital Economics sees "mounting evidence that mortgage-dependent buyers are starting to play a fuller role in the housing market recovery." Compiling information provided by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), Capital Economics found that total application volume was up 3.5 percent from March to April. In its latest Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey (for the week ending May 3), MBA reported a 7.0 percent increase in applications.

The Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) continued to bolster refinance numbers in February, according to a refinance report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA). Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac reported 97,738 HARP refinances throughout the month, bringing the total number of HARP refinances (from the program's inception) to approximately 2.3 million. FHFA also reported HARP refinances accounted for 21 percent of total refinance volume in February.

The Market Composite Index in the Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) weekly applications survey rose 1.8 percent for the week ending April 26.

Purchase loan share picked up more ground in March as mortgage rates climbed further, according to the latest Origination Insight Report from Ellie Mae.

Bank of America's first quarter net income nearly quadrupled over that of last year, according to the bank's quarterly filings. BofA reported Wednesday net income of $2.6 billion for the first quarter of 2013, up from $653 million the same quarter last year. Revenue was $23.7 billion, up from $22.5 billion a year ago. On the residential lending front, the company reported lower mortgage banking income, largely as a result of lower servicing income.

According to MBA's Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending April 12, application volume increased 4.8 percent week-over-week on a seasonally adjusted basis.

January saw nearly half a million new refinances, according to data released by the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced Thursday it is extending the life of the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). Originally slated to expire at the end of this year, HARP will now expire December 31, 2015. The agency also announced it plans to launch a campaign in an attempt to reach more eligible borrowers for the program. While FHFA stated it can't provide "hard estimates" on the number of additional homeowners who are eligible, the hope is for a substantial number to be reached.

While last year's mortgage market was largely dominated by refinance loans, a new report from MortgageMarvel.com says the stage is already set in some areas for purchase loans to take point.

After recently reporting predictions of declining originations, FBR Capital Markets & Co., now says the market looks a little brighter, and a resurgence of refinances through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) will contribute to originations volumes this year. While FBR maintains its prediction that origination volume will be lower than the volumes recorded in the second half of last year, the company now suggests originations "will largely be better than the 20-25 percent drop-off we projected late last week."