Loan Think

If you read between the lines of Ally Financial's just released earnings statement you get the impression that CEO Michael Carpenter continues to favor auto lending over mortgage finance. Maybe it's me, but that's what I've been hearing from people in the industry since this past fall.

A recommendation made by a number of contributors to our publications (both online and print) is for mortgage originators to seek out the services of a business coach.

The BP oil disaster in the Gulf of Mexico is expected to reduce home values by as much as $3 billion over the next five years, according to a new report from CoreLogic.

THIS JUST IN: He's back. Or, perhaps, we should say he's trying to get back in. The "he" is John Robbins who everyone knows well for AmNet Mortgage of San Diego. He sold the nonbank to Wachovia in 2005 and is hunting for opportunities in Mortgageland. Late Friday he sent an e-mail to National Mortgage News confirming what we've been hearing for a few weeks: "Yes, I am looking to get back in the industry." More details to come as we get them...

Sometime it is easier to see your performance by looking at another industry."I'm looking for a smooth ride," I told the tire salesman.

Interactive Mortgage Advisors of Denver is peddling a $1 billion portfolio of Freddie Mac servicing rights, the second $1 billion-plus offering of the past two weeks. MIAC of New York recently announced that it was offering a $1 billion pool too.

Perhaps, Lew Ranieri's recent prediction that the yield on the 10-year Treasury could hit 2.5% this year will actually come true. Predicting where rates are headed is a tough game — but fun. But one thing seems certain at this time: as long as inflation doesn’t flare up (except for maybe oil prices) rates, mortgage rates in particular, aren't headed anywhere, which should be good news for homebuyers except that they're scared about losing their jobs or finding a new one.

Thinking of starting a blog? Or, have you started your blog-but find that no one is reading or commenting on your "interesting" topics? Don't do it until you answer a couple of questions and take the three steps listed below first.Here are those questions to ask yourself:

I haven't really been paying attention to ARM rates lately, because, well, I just assumed that we are living in a fixed-rate world. But the Mortgage Bankers Association released its new weekly application index with this one startling finding: the average contract rate on a one-year ARM is 7.15%

Although there has been a lot printed and the act itself will not really take effect for six-to-18 months when the regulations are due to be published, here is a further summary. The more you read about it, the more you will absorb and be comfortable with.