Some signs of credit-score easing

Sep 20, 2013 Kenneth R. Harney

WASHINGTON — Could the end of the refinancing boom be stimulating slightly more favorable mortgage terms for homebuyers? The latest comprehensive study of activity in the market suggests the answer could be yes.

Ellie Mae, a mortgage technology firm based in Pleasanton, Calif., conducts a widely regarded survey involving a massive, nationally representative sample of loans closed each month. Its August findings, released this week, point to a gradual easing on credit scores for borrowers.

Consider these hard numbers provided by Ellie Mae CEO Jonathan Corr: