Pete Mills, MBA Senior Vice President of Residential Policy and Member Engagement, said the groundswell is sending a strong message to regulators.

The COVID-19 virus has created a level of uncertainty in our country not seen since the financial crisis of 2008. Moreover, recent orders by state governments to shelter in place or executive proclamations closing non-essential businesses have made it exceedingly difficult for our industry to serve consumers and complete real estate financial transactions.

While the falling home loan rates mean a booming business for the mortgage industry and a sign the housing market may help the U.S. economy avoid a true recession, it could also pose a challenge for those trying to process the influx of applications and requests. The digital mortgage servicing journey must focus on streamlining the process through technology and data-enabled solutions.

At a time when the world is dealing with COVID-19—economic, political, social, medical, personal and even spiritual—it is up to financial services organization leadership to look forward to the lasting impacts on banking and finance. Innovation breadth during times of great crisis will not be challenged, and the operating result will be a very foreign landscape to those anticipating minimal post-crisis adjustments.

CoreLogic, Irvine, Calif., reported 3.5% of mortgages in some stage of delinquency in January, an 0.5 percentage point decline in the overall delinquency rate from a year ago.

Mortgage Bankers Association Builder Applications Survey data showed mortgage applications for new home purchases increased by 14 percent in March from February and by 21.2 percent from a year ago, unadjusted.