WaMu is busy because they trimmed back so much and eliminated so many positions not necessarily because they are doing more loans. They have closed most or all of their stand alone and satellite branches here in Atlanta and well over half of the remaining ones nationwide. We're still not doing many purchases here which is amazing because we have historically done over 70% purchases. BUT we have certainly pre-approved a lot of people lately which is usually about 60 to 90 days ahead of them actually closing so I'm looking for a growing year with numbers doubling by mid-summer.

Hi Ken - I agree with you nationally in regards to WAMU, but locally they are still doing a lot of loans...  I do know they have trimmed back here as well, but I think local Seattle might be a little different.

Courtney,

That's the music we would like to hear down here in Vegas, too, but things are still rather slow. Good to hear that your market is buzzing and the mortgage people are busy.

I asked a mortgage rep to plan a class on VA loans with me last week, a class we have taught many times. She can't do it because she "swamped". I love Washington!  Real estate is hot!

We are having the same thing happen down here in Oregon. I had one that was being delayed because we had 8 other docs ahead of us on the day of closing, then when docs went out we were delayed at the title company because they didn't have any time available that day. I would say things are picking up!

Loan Originators in Washington State are busier because there are fewer of us due to licensing (if you work for a mortgage broker) or lay offs, if you work for a bank.  

When rates dipped down, many of us have experienced additional refi transactions in our pipeline.  If I were a real estate agent, I would want to make sure I'm working with a Mortgage Professional who either knows how to prioritize their business.