MBA Newslinks Archive

“This year, there are more homes for sale relative to the number of buyers, so a buyer is more likely to have their first offer accepted, while sellers are having to wait longer for their home to sell. It’s like a 1950s-era school dance with more boys than girls–the girls can quickly find a dancing partner, but more boys are waiting around with no one to dance with.”–Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather.

“Credit availability increased in March, primarily due to a spike in jumbo mortgage offerings. The jumbo sub-index increased 5 percent and reached its highest level since last November, as the recent decline in mortgage rates led to a jump in refinances from borrowers with larger loans.”–Joel Kan, MBA Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting.

“MBA applauds the Senate for confirming Mark Calabria to be the next Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. His knowledge and experience will serve him well as he takes over this dynamic agency at such a critical time.”–MBA President and CEO Robert D. Broeksmit, CMB.

“You have a story to tell. It’s not a story about your business; it’s a story about people. It’s the story about the communities and homeowners and renters who rely on you. Ultimately, you’re telling the story of American families who want to achieve the American Dream. It’s something that every member of Congress needs to hear.”–MBA President and CEO Robert Broeksmit, CMB.

“To see just how technology has exploded over the past five years is astonishing. The mortgage process now is less about consumers providing us with data but more about how we use those data.”–Brian Magruder, Senior Vice President with SunTrust Bank, Richmond, Va.

“A modest downturn in commercial real estate should be manageable for the larger banks, however, some smaller concentrated banks may not fare as well.”–Fitch Ratings Associate Director Johannes Moller.

“What you should be doing is looking at the world around you and take disconnected things and connect them. Think about all the technology you can harness that customers will never see, but will enhance their experience.”–Tech innovator George Blankenship, who spoke at the recent MBA Technology Solutions Conference & Expo.

“The 2008 financial crisis exposed fundamental problems in the GSEs’ business models, as well as weaknesses in the regulatory framework. Ten years later, we have still not determined how or if the GSEs will be permanently reformed. Only by enacting comprehensive legislative reform can we provide the confidence necessary for a stable, sustainable and inclusive mortgage market.”–MBA President and CEO Robert Broeksmit, CMB, in testimony yesterday before the Senate Banking Committee.

“The mortgage industry remains a very challenging environment. The real challenge for lenders moving forward is whether they can bring the cost of originating loans down.”–MBA Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni.

“MBA members are looking to technology as one stone that can kill two birds. First, they want to increase profitability while containing costs. And second, they want to improve the customer experience.”–MBA President & CEO Robert Broeksmit, CMB.