article thumbnail

More homebuyers seek government-backed loans as an affordability lifeline

Housing Wire

The company’s newest National Housing Market Outlook shows that buyers are gravitating toward government-backed loans in their search for affordability. 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.

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. More renovations?

Insiders

Sign Up for our Newsletter

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

article thumbnail

Department of Veterans Affairs pauses VA loan foreclosures for 6 months

Housing Wire

The Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is pausing foreclosures on homes financed with VA loans for six months to help military borrowers in danger of losing their homes, a department spokesperson said in a statement to HousingWire on Monday.

VA loan 518
article thumbnail

Refi activity surged in March, and non-agency loans are picking up steam

Housing Wire

Refinances made up a quarter of all lock activity for the first time in six months, and we saw a clear rise in non-conforming loan share as buyers looked for more flexible options and higher loan amounts. The pull-through rate for refinance loans rose to 63.3%, indicating stronger borrower commitment compared to earlier months.

Loans 341
article thumbnail

As the VA loan turns 80, its economic impact is in the trillions

Housing Wire

An analysis released Wednesday by Columbia, Missouri -based lender Veterans United Home Loans revealed that the home loan program through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) has contributed $3.9 The VA loan program — which was established in 1944 through the GI Bill — will celebrate its 80th anniversary on June 22.

VA loan 466
article thumbnail

Better introduces VA refi loan with no appraisal or closing costs

Housing Wire

New York-based digital mortgage lender Better.com launched a streamline refinance loan product on Monday that aims to help military veterans and service members save money on long-term interest expenses and closing costs. Better is now offering the well-known Interest Rate Reduction Refinance Loan (IRRRL) through the U.S.

article thumbnail

Cause for concern? FHA, VA delinquencies are rising quickly

Housing Wire

New data released Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) revealed that the delinquency rate for mortgages on one- to four-unit residential properties increased to a seasonally adjusted rate of 3.98% of all loans outstanding at the end of 2024. Department of Veterans Affairs loans. And likewise, it’s gone up for VA.

VA loan 417