Paul Centopani

Economic strength bolstered the performance of loans included in commercial mortgage-backed securities with delinquencies improving for the seventh consecutive quarter, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

After a sustained downward trajectory, nondepository mortgage companies added 1,200 workers in April, a modest boost for lenders during prime season for the housing market.

While home equity gains realized their lowest increase since 2012, the first quarter's rate still helped pull borrowers from underwater as the equity total compiled $5.6 trillion in seven years, according to CoreLogic.

Cutting the title insurance decision to nearly instantaneous will be the norm in the next 12 to 24 months, according to WFG Lender Services.

Commercial and multifamily mortgage lenders need to figure out their plan for replacing the London interbank offered rate index potentially expiring at the end of 2021.

The most borrowers in three years currently qualify for refinancing as the average for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped below 4% for the first time in over a year, according to Black Knight.

With Sen. Elizabeth Warren's cancellation plan to alleviate student debt, millennials would save up for mortgage down payments three years sooner, according to Redfin.

Expectations of economic growth paint a sunny picture for summer home buying with consumer confidence near an 18-year high, but borrowers' mixed view of their income prospects could compound affordability constraints.

With the starter home inventory shortage pressuring first-time homebuyers to act, four out of five millennial purchasers lament at least one aspect of their mortgage, according to Zillow.

From secondary markets along the East Coast to the heart of the Midwest, here's a look at cities where consumers are losing ground in purchasing power as summer approaches, based on changes in housing values compared to local wages and mortgage rates.

Despite the benefits of going to a fully or hybrid digital mortgage process, some lenders still hesitate to adopt it as fast as expected.

The Federal Housing Administration and Ginnie Mae will use their lagging digital mortgage positions to their advantage as they put an emphasis on building their technology.

The distressed mortgage market continues to dry up, with delinquencies shriveling to a record low rate and foreclosure filings dropping annually for 10 consecutive months.

The market for non-qualified mortgages has been robust thus far in 2019, offering a pragmatic option for otherwise viable borrowers, as long as lenders stay vigilant about pushing the envelope too far.

Mortgage rates descended through the onset of spring's home buying season, pushing up the share of refinance loans and volume of new-home purchase applications, according to Ellie Mae and the MBA.

The gap in home price perception between appraisers and property owners widened in April, reaching its greatest spike in four years, according to Quicken Loans. At the same time, home values continued climbing.

Strong levels of employment and continued economic expansion drove February's mortgage delinquencies and foreclosures to 20-year lows, according to CoreLogic.

The Government Accountability Office called on Ginnie Mae to undertake four reforms to its operations, citing concerns regarding the ongoing shift in size and capitalization of mortgage-backed securities issuers.

As home price appreciation levels off, the amount of underwater loans rose in the first quarter while equity-rich properties continued adding value, according to Attom Data Solutions.

Lenders can help both the consumer save money and their own volumes by offering the most competitive rates or reducing their fees. Here's a look at the 12 housing markets borrowers save the most over the life of their loan by shopping around for a mortgage, according to LendingTree.