Brian Hale, the former head of Stearns Lending, will be leading a new financial services unit at William Lyon Homes that encompasses two joint ventures the builder has with mortgage companies.
Assurant and its American Title subsidiary are adapting hybrid title and appraisal products used in the home equity market to the first-lien mortgage market on a test basis.
Supporters maintain hope that the Federal Housing Administration will revive a proposed premium cut, but a key obstacle remains: There's no one to run the agency.
