Survey says most homeowners overlook home equity loans

HMDA data shows low-income lending increase in 2003MortgagePress.comHDMA,Statistics,Loan Origination According to recent Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data, mortgage lending among low-income families increased in 2003, while originations of government-backed loans was relatively unchanged. Home purchase applications increased 10 percent in 2003 compared to 2002. Conventional loan applications surged 32.2 percent in the low-income census tract, rising to 154,910 from 117,187; and 47.7 percent in the moderate-income census tract, increasing to 938,156 from 643,881. Consequently, these income brackets experienced the largest increase in home purchase lending, rising 16 percent, as compared to the middle- and upper-income brackets, which posted a nine percent increase. Ethnic groups, with the exception of Native Americans, experienced healthy growth in conventional and government-backed home purchase lending, as well. Hispanics increased 18 percent; Asians, 16 percent; blacks, 15 percent; and 11 percent for whites, while Native Americans decreased five percent in 2003. For more information, visit www.ffiec.gov.