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Is competition a cure for confusion? Evidence from the residential mortgage market

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  • Steven Malliaris
  • Daniel A. Rettl
  • Ruchi Singh

Abstract

Using the National Survey of Mortgage Originations, we document that borrowers who are more financially sophisticated (measured by their self‐reported understanding of the mortgage process) and more exposed to competition (measured by the number of lenders they considered) pay lower mortgage rate spreads. Yet, competition is not a substitute for sophistication: the benefits of competition accrue to sophisticates as well as to naïfs. Our results complement those from the literature detailing the limits of advice and education, and collectively they paint a pessimistic view about the prospects for simple interventions to close the mortgage rate gap between the informed and the naive.

Suggested Citation

  • Steven Malliaris & Daniel A. Rettl & Ruchi Singh, 2022. "Is competition a cure for confusion? Evidence from the residential mortgage market," Real Estate Economics, American Real Estate and Urban Economics Association, vol. 50(1), pages 206-246, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:reesec:v:50:y:2022:i:1:p:206-246
    DOI: 10.1111/1540-6229.12340
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    Cited by:

    1. Marta Cota & Ante Sterc, 2024. "Financial Skills and Search in the Mortgage Market," CERGE-EI Working Papers wp780, The Center for Economic Research and Graduate Education - Economics Institute, Prague.
    2. Bhutta, Neil & Hizmo, Aurel, 2020. "Paying Too Much? Borrower Sophistication and Overpayment in the US Mortgage Market," CEPR Discussion Papers 14924, C.E.P.R. Discussion Papers.
    3. Damen, Sven & Schildermans, Stef, 2022. "Capital requirements, mortgage rates and house prices," Journal of Banking & Finance, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).

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