As interest rates rise, homeowners are staying out of the real estate market because they don’t want to let go of the record-low mortgage rates they were able to obtain over the last two years.

Rocket, UWM offer low-downpayment products; CFPB finds sharp differences in loan pricing; servicing profits improve; timing for recession unclear; quantifying the refi boom; Freddie improves paystub analysis; Blend offers soft credit pulls; MISMO seeks comments on closing standards; Maxwell acquires capital markets provider; fractional homeownership.

There were roughly half a million fewer new listings in the first four months of this year than in the first four months of 2019, a year before the pandemic.

Denial rates on applications for purchase mortgages in the conventional-conforming market held steady in 2022, while refi rejections jumped as interest rates increased during the year, according to HMDA data. (Includes data chart.)

The nonbank plans to use artificial intelligence in an effort to sharply reduce expenses from its call center operations.

Tightening of lending standards by banks in the wake of elevated interest rates has created an opportunity for nonbanks to increase their share of the home-equity lending market.

The Fed’s massive increase in interest rates has lowered the value of 20-year-plus Treasuries by 30%, according to NBER economists.

Interplay between debt ceiling and mortgage interest rates; mortgage employment declines; rate locks down; Rithm considers spin-off; Planet Financial looking for lenders; new LO recruiting software; Blend’s market share grows; Black Knight’s margins; new appraisal marketplace; MISMO requests for comment.

About 48% of potential first-time buyers are saving up to buy a new home and get out of the monthly rental cycle.

Technology and mortgage industry experts will team up to develop solutions to improve the digital mortgage experience, reduce costs and improve access to mortgage finance.