States Get Framework for Regulating Non-Bank Servicers

The Board of Directors of the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) has released model state regulatory prudential standards for nonbank mortgage servicers. CSBS is the national organization of bank regulators from all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and most U.S. territories. Those regulators supervise roughly three-quarters of all U.S. banks and a variety of non-depository financial services. CSBS also operates the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System to license and register non-depository financial service providers in the mortgage, money services, consumer finance, and debt industries.

"Seesawing" Pending Sales May Signal Market Turning Point

Pending home sales fell back slightly in June after a notable and unexpected 8.0 percent gain in May. The National Association of Realtors® (NAR) said its Pending Home Sales Index (PHSI) dipped 1.9 percent from May to a reading of 112.8. This was also 1.9 percent lower than the index in June 2020. The PHSI is based on newly signed contracts to purchase existing single-family homes, townhouses, condos, and cooperative apartments. It is considered a leading indicator of those sales which are generally expected to close over the next one to two months.

COVID Concerns Drive Rates Lower, Refi Volume Rises

Refinancing continues to support mortgage application activity while purchase applications continued to weaken during the week ended July 23. The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) says its Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 5.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from the prior week and the unadjusted index was up 6 percent. The Refinance Index rose by 9 percent although it was down 10 percent from its level the same week one year ago. The refinance share of mortgage activity increased to 67.2 percent of total applications from 64.9 percent the previous week. The seasonally adjusted Purchase Index decreased 2 percent and unadjusted Purchase Index ticked down 1 percent compared with the previous week. The latter was 18 percent lower than the same week in 2020.