Residential Mortgage Markets: Current Developments and Future Prospects

Historical developments as well as current innovations have generated significant changes in the structure and operation of the residential mortgage market. General economic stability, a low inflation rate, growth of savings and loan associations, and strong consumer demand marked the fifteen-year period immediately following World War II. In contrast, the decade of the sixties was characterized by increased competition in the mortgage market, a series of credit crunches, and increased governmental activity. In reaction to these and related developments, current innovations affecting the mortgage market focus on design of new mortgage instruments, improvements in market efficiency, and reform of financial institutions. If history is a guide, it suggests that the residential mortgage market responds flexibly to adverse conditions. Copyright American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association.