article thumbnail

More homebuyers seek government-backed loans as an affordability lifeline

Housing Wire

As a result, more buyers are turning to products like Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans, which accounted for 24% of primary home purchases in 2024, and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans, which made up 10%, according to purchase loan lock data from Optimal Blue.

article thumbnail

Cause for concern? FHA, VA delinquencies are rising quickly

Housing Wire

Specifically, conventional loans are performing much better than Federal Housing Administration and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs loans. The seriously delinquent rate (loans that are at least 90 days overdue, plus those in foreclosure) for FHA loans is 4.12%, roughly three times higher than the 1.14% rate for conventional loans.

VA loan 417
Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

article thumbnail

Mortgage demand for new homes is down 6.9% in the past year

Housing Wire

The share of Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loan applications hit a record high for the survey, accounting for nearly one-third of all applications. The average loan size decreased, signaling that first-time homebuyers remain active in the market, Kan said. By loan type, conventional mortgages made up 56.7%

FHA loan 367
article thumbnail

Loan officers are seeing an uptick in FHA, VA demand

Housing Wire

According to the MBA, rates for Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans dipped to 6.42%, while refinance activity posted its fastest pace since October 2024. The move in government refinances was driven by a 75% increase in VA loans, which have been prone to large changes in recent months.

article thumbnail

Optimal Blue: Mortgage refinances jump despite higher rates

Housing Wire

Jumbo mortgage rates were up 2 bps, VA loan rates were up 4 bps and FHA loan rates remained unchanged. Optimal Blue reported that after hitting a multiyear low in December, the conforming loan share edged up slightly to 51% of total production but remained near record lows.

VA loan 335
article thumbnail

Mortgage demand for new homes is slowing, but the market is still warm

Housing Wire

Conventional loans accounted for 61.6% of applications, Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans for 28% and U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans for 9.9% The average loan size for new homes decreased to $402,873, down from $409,942 in October. from the 56,000 sales in October. in November.

FHA loan 397
article thumbnail

Mortgage demand falls for the first time in five weeks as interest rates increase

Housing Wire

Meanwhile, government loan activity increased across all loan types, excluding U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) loans. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) share of total activity increased by 110 bps to 17.6%. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loans increased 10 bps to 0.5%. of all applications.

VA loan 395