Servicing

At BOK Financial mortgage banking revenue increased 70% from a year earlier, to $50.3 million.

The new agreements allow residential servicers to approve any short sale or deed-in-lieu that meets Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac's requirements without individual mortgage insurance company approval.

Will some of Residential Capital Corporation's massive servicing portfolio wind up at Home Loan Servicing Solutions?

Assurant said it is attempting to create more flexible policies that address the concerns of banker clients and regulators about costs and services provided.

Although Genworth's mortgage insurance division lost money, it is seeing a noticeable pick up in new policies written.

Among other things, the Department of Housing and Urban Development has imposed a 90-moratorium on foreclosures of FHA-insured loans affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Because of storm damage, lenders will need to have properties re-appraised which means home inspectors will be busy in the New York-New Jersey area and surrounding locales.

More firms are contemplating selling servicing rights -- including the nation's megabanks.

The Federal Housing Administration notes that purchase money loans represented 62% of all government insured forward mortgages originated in fiscal year 2012.

A spokeswoman for Wells Fargo said the refunds were not prompted by any regulatory action -- nor are they related to a federal lawsuit filed early this month by the U.S. Attorney in New York.