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.
Lenders took an average pre-tax loss of $645 per loan originated in the first quarter compared with an average loss of $2,109 per loan in the previous quarter.
SIFMA warned that Freddie’s proposal to acquire second liens could pose risks to the to-be-announced, credit-risk transfer and consumer-loan markets. SFA said the proposal, if approved, should be limited.