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Even though mortgage originations are way down over the last couple of months there hasn't been a significant move by regulators or lenders to ease up a bit on lending standards.  The big refinancing boom is over.  Now if lenders are to make money they will need more homebuyers to enter the market.  Don't be surprised if the standards for first time homebuyers to obtain a mortgage are lowered a little over the next few months.

Thankfully the U.S. congress reached an agreement to reopen the government last night.  The concern for the real estate market was that a U.S. default would further the increases in mortgage interest rates for at least the short term, slowing the sale of houses.  In addition the closure of the government delayed closings for some homebuyer if they were getting a mortgage loan through a federal loan program.