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Credit and Housing Price Effects of Automated Underwriting Adoption

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Abstract

We study how the 1990s adoption of now widely-used automated mortgage underwriting systems affected credit, house prices and their comovement across locations. The effects go well beyond processing improvements. By implementing more complex, statistically-informed lending rules, the systems allowed households to borrow more, pushing up house prices. Furthermore, by transmitting a common set of credit standards across lenders, the new technology increased house price synchronization. Together, our results illustrate how new lending technology can generate systematic credit supply shocks, influencing house prices and increasing market interconnectedness.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephanie Johnson & Nitzan Tzur-Ilan, 2025. "Credit and Housing Price Effects of Automated Underwriting Adoption," Working Papers 2506, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, revised 04 May 2026.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:feddwp:99619
    DOI: 10.24149/wp2506r2
    Note: Previous versions of this paper circulated under the titles "Financial Technology and the 1990s Housing Boom" and "Automated Underwriting and Housing Market Dynamics."
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Karl E. Case & Robert J. Shiller & Anne K. Thompson, 2012. "What Have They Been Thinking? Homebuyer Behavior in Hot and Cold Markets," Brookings Papers on Economic Activity, Economic Studies Program, The Brookings Institution, vol. 43(2 (Fall)), pages 265-315.
    2. Jane K. Dokko & Benjamin J. Keys & Lindsay E. Relihan, 2019. "Affordability, financial innovation and the start of the housing boom," CEP Discussion Papers dp1611, Centre for Economic Performance, LSE.
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    JEL classification:

    • G21 - Financial Economics - - Financial Institutions and Services - - - Banks; Other Depository Institutions; Micro Finance Institutions; Mortgages
    • L85 - Industrial Organization - - Industry Studies: Services - - - Real Estate Services
    • R21 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Household Analysis - - - Housing Demand
    • R31 - Urban, Rural, Regional, Real Estate, and Transportation Economics - - Real Estate Markets, Spatial Production Analysis, and Firm Location - - - Housing Supply and Markets

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