Origination

Like other parts of the real estate finance business, appraisal management companies are dealing with increased costs and less income.

Commercial and multifamily mortgage loan originations fell by 45% in the first quarter from the previous quarter, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Bill Ackman, who runs the $15 billion Pershing Square Capital Management, said that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will probably soar because there's no way to replace the mortgage guarantee companies.

The title giant is betting it can capitalize on growing demand for technologies that will help lenders stay competitive. The challenge will be doing so without getting stung itself by the industry's regulatory and volume problems.

New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio's initiative for 200,000 affordable housing units over 10 years calls for a $1 billion investment from the city's five public employee pension funds and the use of tax-exempt 501(c)(3) governmental purpose bonds to finance middle-income housing.

The Federal Housing Administration's new electronic signature policy contains confusing language that could stifle lender adoption, despite its good intentions, paperless-mortgage advocates warn.

What might work better would be clarifying guidance on mortgage insurance premium rules, the meaning of bona fide discount points, and the rules for affiliate compensation.

Freedom Mortgage is expanding its retail lending footprint in the Western U.S. by purchasing the assets of BluFi Lending.

As a bill that could bring monumental changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac works its way through the Senate, some credit union executives are concerned that larger players would have too many advantages at the expense of small lenders.

A roundup of comments on our Editor at Large blog, from the best and brightest to the not-so-bright.