Sales of both existing and new homes declined on a monthly basis in April. Still, home sales and mortgage originations are expected to pick up as interest rates decline.

A decline in interest rates near the end of 2023 drove up refi volume. Meanwhile, purchase-mortgage lending declined slightly on a sequential basis as seasonal factors limited demand. (Includes four data tables.)

The number of veterans and service members who plan to purchase a home in the next six months has increased, according to a new quarterly survey of prospective homebuyers by Veterans United Home Loans.

Potential homebuyers are showing stronger demand for mortgages than they were a year ago, even though interest rates are higher now. Economists at Fannie Mae revised their projections for mortgage originations upward last week.

Mortgage rates are higher than economists expected them to be because inflation and other data are coming in at unexpected levels. The missed projections aren’t surprising, according to Chase’s Jamie Dimon.

Total issuance of Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities declined slightly during the first quarter of this year. Still, volume was up sharply from the first three months of 2023. (Includes four data tables.)

The use of discount points to lower mortgage rates has jumped in recent years as interest rates continued to climb. But the benefit of the points for the borrower is unclear, the CFPB said in a report.

A new survey shows that younger homebuyers are more willing to accept higher interest rates compared to older generations.

Mark Jones, chair of the Mortgage Bankers Association, expects home sales to remain suppressed due to limited supply and elevated interest rates.

The mortgage process met or exceeded the expectations of many homebuyers; interest rates look to be too high for potential homebuyers; the defect rate on mortgages declined again; tech vendor raises $19 million; Altisource Asset Management exits mortgage market.