Origination

Just three of the 17 Mortgage Industry Equity Composite stocks finished trading on Thursday ahead of their Wednesday close, as investors continue to worry about the situation in Cyprus.

Despite high unemployment, the recovery in the housing market has created a shortage of carpenters, framers, roofers, and plumbers, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

According to new Census data, home equity losses due to the foreclosure crisis took a toll on household wealth and pushed older Americans deeper in debt.

Home sales in Florida are up over 10% in February compared with the same month in 2012, Florida Realtors reported.

Cole Credit Property Trust III Inc. has rejected an unsolicited takeover bid from American Realty Capital Properties, stating it will maintain its plans to acquire Cole Holdings Corp.

The Mortgage Grapevine pays tribute to Peter Samuel Cugno, a forensic securitization mortgage loan auditor at Cugno & Associates.

The third party originations channels will “grow exponentially” over the next few years, and First Guaranty Mortgage Corp. wants to be ready for that, the company’s top executive said.

Federal Housing Administration may not be able meet increasing demand for multifamily and health care facility loans this summer when the agency is expected to run out of loan commitment authority.

Wells Fargo was the top originator for commercial mortgage-backed securities and loans sold to other investors.

Sales of previously owned homes rose 0.8% in February from the prior month as single-family sales were flat and condominium sales jumped 9%.