Market volatility, both in equity and bond markets, increased sharply last week because of the serial surprises with respect to the direction of U.S. tariff policy.
Category: News and Trends
Optimal Blue: Refinances Jump in March
Optimal Blue, Plano, Texas, released its March 2025 Market Advantage mortgage data report, finding a 24% increase in rate lock volume, attributed to early spring buyers entering the market and homeowners refinancing with recent lower rates.
Auction.com Reports Buyers’ Optimism Grows
Auction.com, Irvine, Calif., released its 2025 Buyer Insights Report, finding 64% of buyers of distressed properties at auction expect their purchases to increase in 2025, up from 60% in 2024 and 54% in 2023.
Quote of the Day
“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.”
–Brennan O’Connell, Optimal Blue
Colliers: Big-Box Industrial Properties Lead the Way
Big-box industrial buildings have led the way for the overall industrial market over the past several years according to Colliers, Seattle.
Tara Healy Recognized With Marianne Collins Outstanding State and Local Association Leadership Award
Tara Healy, CMB, received the 2025 Marianne Collins Outstanding State and Local Association Leadership Award during MBA’s State and Local Workshop.
Slideshow: Lawmakers Address MBA’s National Advocacy Conference
A number of lawmakers stopped by the Mortgage Bankers Association’s National Advocacy Conference last week. Click here to see a slideshow.
MBA Statement on the Reintroduction of House and Senate Bills to Stop Abusive Trigger Leads
MBA’s President and CEO Bob Broeksmit, CMB, released a statement on the reintroduction of the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate.
Quote of the Day
“We commend trigger lead reform champions Senators Bill Hagerty and Jack Reed and Reps. John Rose and Ritchie Torres for their leadership.”
–MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit, CMB, commenting on the reintroduction of the Homebuyers Privacy Protection Act
MBA Promotes Brendan Kelleher to Associate Vice President of Government Housing Finance
The Mortgage Bankers Association announced that Brendan Kelleher has been promoted to fill the role of Associate Vice President of Government Housing Finance.