A closer look into mortgage rates, loan limits and forbearance numbers

In today’s HousingWire Daily episode HW+ Managing Editor Brena Nath joins HousingWire Editor in Chief Sarah Wheeler to discuss the most compelling articles reported from the HousingWire newsroom. Brena and Sarah review the announcement that conforming loan limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now expected to rise, and examine what record low mortgage rates and recent forbearance numbers could mean for the housing market.

For more background on what is discussed, here is a preview of today’s interview. The transcript below has been lightly edited for length:

Q: What other pieces of news should we be watching out for right now?

Sarah Wheeler: Even though it was a holiday, Black Knight put out their recent forbearance numbers on Friday and notably, the Mortgage Bankers Association is expected to do the same soon. Black Knight’s recent numbers do show a small uptick, but just week over week and  the forbearance numbers we can see right now are still really good. That’s great news for all of us. Nobody wants to see a big uptick in forbearances, but also, it just feels like a lot of the people who are in forbearance now have extensions. Those are some things that we’re looking at. We’re also looking at delinquencies and seeing how its progressing. It’s worth mentioning, we have seen an uptick in the amount of interest in distressed properties, which are vacant properties that were probably foreclosed on before COVID-19. We’re discovering some really interesting things on that, but forbearance is something we’re going to be examining from here until this time next year or longer. Currently, HousingWire has a forbearance FAQ that we’ve done in coordination with Freddie Mac. It’s just to give our industry and consumers information because we still see people coming out of forbearance who have never talked to their servicer. I mean, there’s just no reason for that, and that may not be the best move. I think forbearance is always going to be something we’re looking at.

The HousingWire Daily examines the most compelling articles reported from the HousingWire newsroom. Each afternoon, we provide our listeners with a deeper look into the stories coming across our newsroom that are helping Move Markets Forward. Hosted by the HW team and produced by Alcynna Lloyd and Victoria Wickham.

HousingWire articles covered in this episode:

• Fannie, Freddie conforming loan limits increase for 2021
• Demand for distressed housing returning
• What is mortgage forbearance? Here’s everything you need to know