National Mortgage News - March 2018

Tight margins, regulatory clarity and a renewed appetite to expand have made mortgage brokers and the wholesale channel attractive again, at least to the small and medium mortgage lenders.

Mortgage lenders are embracing the broker-wholesale channel as a low-cost way to extend their reach and maintain volume in the face of rising home prices and interest rates that are putting a damper on origination activity.

Today's mortgage broker is tech savvy, sophisticated and better equipped to thrive in a wholesale channel that's far more competitive than in the past.

If recent corporate expansions at GE, Google and Toyota are any indication, the city that lands Amazon's second headquarters should expect widespread real estate speculation and unrealistic home price expectations that will strain affordability and make it difficult for mortgage lenders to qualify borrowers.

The legislation, a similar version of which passed in the last Congress, would give favorable regulatory treatment to certain loans even if real estate-related fees were paid to an affiliate of the lender.

As conservator, FHFA Director Mel Watt has substantial leeway to remake the government-sponsored enterprises without congressional input. Here's one way he might do so.

Housing finance reformers are pushing full steam ahead to get a bill introduced before the political calendar makes passage nearly impossible.

The acting head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau can utilize "look-backs" of mortgage servicing and underwriting rules to push for significant changes.

It was a record-setting year in terms of the low number of foreclosure starts, partially helped by the various post-storm moratoria, according to Black Knight.

For many newcomers to the U.S., establishing credit is a big challenge. A handful of entrepreneurs are developing tools to help verify their financial histories.

Servicers continue to face data management challenges, particularly during loan onboarding and transfers. Blockchain technology may hold the key to resolving those issues.

Continuing to pull back the reins on the aggressive approach taken under former Director Richard Cordray, the agency's new five-year plan values consumer choice over heavy-handed enforcement.

Communication between all parties in the chain, from borrower through guarantor, is the best way to minimize mortgage losses after events like last year’s hurricanes and wildfires, according to servicers and federal officials.

Bonus depreciation, Section 179, interest and loss limitations — what does it all mean?

Weak profits and the threat of false claims charges are keeping banks out of the market for loans guaranteed by the Federal Housing Administration and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending March 2.

Here's a look at the 10 housing markets where the most homebuyers have prime credit scores.