Dodd-Frank

Mortgage companies must properly vet their third-party vendors to ensure that there is no litigation, fraud allegations, or other risky behavior that might create risk for them.

A new report suggests that the credit quality of residential mortgage-backed securities will continue to improve in 2015.

The State Regulatory Registry, which runs the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System, says that mortgage loan originator and company renewals for 2015 are off to a strong start.

Banks could originate 300,000 more home loans per quarter and face only a slightly higher risk of default, according to a new report. But lenders are unlikely to loosen lending standards until they are sure that Fannie, Freddie and the FHA have eased up on buyback requests.

Part two of this three-part series covers what the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wants to see from originators if they close loans in their own name.

Going from 5% to 3% may seem like a small difference, but depending on the details, it could mean thousands of new buyers into the market.

With an eye on eliminating mortgage buybacks and adhering to increasing regulatory compliance obligations, mortgage lenders are redoubling their sales training efforts for both rookie and veteran loan officers.

Mel Watt, director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, has set off a political tempest.

Republicans are unlikely to push the ball forward on reform of the federal housing agencies, but Congress has a number of other opportunities to make changes that will encourage mortgage lending.

Industry observers have mixed reactions on whether next year's Republican-controlled Congress will finally address long-stalled efforts to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

During the past week, consumer and industry groups have lobbied the agency in different directions, with consumer groups arguing the agency did not go far enough and lenders saying it went too far in seeking more data from lenders.