The homeownership rate hit a six-year high at the end of last year, with low interest rates helping homebuyers even as prices increased at a steady pace. Low inventory of homes for sale could lead to affordability issues this year.

Rates are on a downward slope once again, which means mortgage and housing economists may want to rethink their origination forecasts for 2020.

Policymakers should focus on making origination and servicing attractive to banks and nonbanks alike instead of adopting additional standards that apply to non-depositories, the Mortgage Bankers Association says.