Mortgage applications increase, led by refinances; three M&A transactions involving lenders/branches; home price appreciation trends.

Goldman issued a similar deal with home equity lines of credit in October.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, said responses to her questions from both Jonathan McKernan, nominee to lead the CFPB, and Bill Pulte, nominee to lead the FHFA, were disqualifying.

Rep. Mike Flood, R-NE, pointed to regulations (largely at the state/local level) and the cost of materials as the main drivers limiting the supply of homes for sale.

The first Trump administration didn’t take many actions to boost the non-QM market, so the outlook is murky.

A decline in interest rates helped to increase demand for refis and purchase mortgages last week.

Four deals started marketing Monday, including three expanded-credit MBS.

Fannie Mae is set to issue a credit risk transfer deal tied to a pool of mortgages with an unpaid principal balance of $17.0 billion.

Homebuilders with lending units continue to prop up home sales by offering mortgage buydowns. The tactic cuts into homebuilders’ margins but many company officials prefer lower margins rather than unsold inventory.

MISMO is out with five proposals, including a tool to simplify standards adoption. Other new features include tech for credit modernization, appraisals and housing counseling.