News Topic: Originations Market Monitor
News: Mortgage Purchase Lock Counts See First YoY Gain Since Fed Rate Hikes Began Two Years Ago
Mortgage and Finance News: (PLANO, Texas) Optimal Blue today released its April 2024 Originations Market Monitor report, which reveals the first year-over-year increase in purchase mortgage lock counts since the Federal Reserve initiated rate hikes in March 2022.
News: Average Homebuyer Credit Score Hits the Highest Mark in Years
Mortgage and Finance News: (PLANO, Texas) Today, Optimal Blue released its March 2024 Originations Market Monitor report, which reveals the average homebuyer credit score has reached 737 - an all-time high since the company began tracking this data in January 2018. Despite the potential buyer pool being somewhat limited to borrowers with higher credit, rate lock volume showed steady month-over-month growth of 17% in March as the spring buying season got underway.
News: Spring Buying Season Kicks Off With an Uptick in Purchase Applications Despite Climbing Interest Rates
Mortgage and Finance News: (PLANO, Texas) Today, Optimal Blue released its February 2024 Originations Market Monitor report, which reveals that the spring homebuying season has kicked off with a jump in monthly purchase mortgage locks. The seasonal spike in purchase locks propelled a net increase in origination activity, even as higher interest rates led to steep declines in mortgage refinances.