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Automated Underwriting and Housing Market Dynamics

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Abstract

We study how the 1990s adoption of now widely-used automated mortgage underwriting systems affected credit supply, 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 credit and house price synchronization. Together, our results illustrate how new lending technology can generate correlated credit supply shocks, contributing to house price booms and increasing market interconnectedness.

Suggested Citation

  • Stephanie Johnson & Nitzan Tzur-Ilan, 2025. "Automated Underwriting and Housing Market Dynamics," Working Papers 2506, Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, revised 23 Dec 2025.
    • Handle: RePEc:fip:feddwp:99619
    DOI: 10.24149/wp2506r1
    Note: An earlier draft of this paper circulated under the title "Financial Technology and the 1990s Housing Boom."
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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. Dokko, Jane K. & Keys, Benjamin J. & Relihan, Lindsay, 2019. "Affordability, financial innovation and the start of the housing boom," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 101017, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
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    Keywords

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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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