Declining interest rates in January and February helped to push refinance business up, but not enough to offset the seasonal decline in purchase-mortgage lending in the first quarter.

Glass half full: Originations surged on an annual basis in the first quarter. Glass half empty: Lending declined on a quarterly basis as interest rates jumped in March.

Borrowers pulled back in March as interest rates on mortgages increased, but demand improved after rates fell at the end of March.

Inflation caused by the U.S.-Iran War means that mortgage rates aren’t likely to fall back below 6.0% this year, according to Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association.

BofA, Chase and Wells all increased production by more than 40% on an annual basis in the first quarter of 2026. But demand for mortgages diminished in March amid rising interest rates.

The five largest lenders accounted for 21.5% of originations in 2025. Nonbanks produced 65.6% of all residential mortgages. (Includes two data tables.)

The annual adjustment that FHFA makes to conforming loan limits presents opportunities and challenges for jumbo lenders, according to new research.

Artificial intelligence tools that are specifically designed for mortgage tasks offer more accurate results than general-purpose AI models, according to a new study.

The proposals would reduce capital requirements of banks in terms of mortgages held in portfolio and for mortgage servicing. Federal banking regulators said the goal is to help banks better compete with nonbanks.

The correspondent share of mortgage originations shrank in 2025, with retail picking up most of the slack. Both channels remained well ahead of the wholesale channel. (Includes six data tables.)