President of MBA Calls for End of Shutdown

The president and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), David H. Stevens, has recently issued a statement regarding the government shutdown and the affect it is having on the housing market. "The federal government shutdown will have a growing impact on the housing market the longer it continues. If this shutdown is temporary, the ones affected most will be out of work federal employees," he says. "However, the longer it goes, the greater impact it will have on borrowers, the housing market and the national economy."

He continues, "lenders processing loans that need tax transcripts, social security number verification, or FHA home loans face longer delays and reduced functionality from HUD, IRS, and the Social Security Administration. Different loan programs have different requirements, and these disruptions impact lenders in different ways, leading to confusion and fear among borrowers about whether they will be able to close on a home purchase or refinance. There are significant impacts on multifamily lenders, as well. Rental housing properties awaiting FHA financing cannot move forward.

“The furloughs can disrupt time-sensitive mortgage transaction deals by interfering with borrower lock agreements and causing interest rate disparities from the time of closing to the time the loan is securitized.

“For these reasons there must be a resolution so that borrowers and lenders are able to return to business as usual.”

We don't know when the shutdown will end but so far there have already been damaging affects on the housing market. If you have any questions about it, give us a call! 888-883-5252.

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Number of Mortgage Apps Increase

The Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) most recently Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey has compiled data for the week ending March 1, 2013.  According to this information, the number of mortgage applications filed has increased by 14.8% compared to a week earlier. The volume of mortgage loan applications is determined by the Market Composite Index. It tallied the current data on a seasonally adjusted basis. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 15% compared to last week.

The number of refinance applications remains the same as last week, sitting at 77% of total applications.

These statistics are good for the mortgage industry. The increase of applications proves that more and more people are continuing to leap into the world of homeownership. This hints that the economy is recovering and jobs are stable.

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Increase in Purchase Applications

According to the Mortgage Banker's Association's Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey, the week ending January 18, 2013 brought about a 7% increase in mortgage applications. This is being counted on a seasonally adjusted basis. Unadjusted statistics show that the number of mortgage applications being filed increased by 8% from the previous week. Refinancing also increased by 8% for the week. This shows that the economy is recovering well despite the recent expiration of the homebuyer tax credit. The interest rates are still low, which is a huge benefit to those looking to purchase a home in the coming months. If you are among those people, give Quest Loans a call. We'll help you get the application process going! 888-883-5252.

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