Corporate governance

Jeanne D'Arc Credit Union has begun thanking home buyers for their business by throwing housewarming parties for them once the process is complete.

Technology-focused mortgage lender loanDepot has created another joint venture with a homebuilder, this time with AV Homes.

Former top commercial mortgage-backed securities strategist Trevor Murray accused the Swiss lender of illegally firing him in 2012 for blowing the whistle on attempts by traders to influence his research reports.

PrimeLending is entering into an affiliated business arrangement with Dallas homebuilder Grand Homes that is expected to start producing loans in February.

The company said it will lay off more than a dozen employees in a move that reflects the current volume of mortgage loan originations.

The company will pay $186 million for First Bank Lubbock in a deal that also includes mortgage unit PrimeWest Mortgage.

The Tennessee company also set high expectations for revenue opportunities while projecting it will deliver a 15% return on equity in 2019.

Higher costs dampened mortgage lenders' profitability, outweighing near-term gains in origination volume and per-loan revenue during the third quarter, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's quarterly.

Sometimes reaching underserved borrowers takes experimenting with changes to the mortgage finance system. That's why Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are working with lenders to test innovative loan products that meet borrowers' evolving needs.

When data doesn't tell the whole story about untapped market opportunities, mortgage executives must draw on their personal experiences and local expertise to craft unique strategies to reach new borrowers.