Origination

The average for fixed-rate mortgages dropped to new record lows during the week ending Nov. 15.

Overall, consumers gave the industry an average score of 761 (on a 1,000-point scale) in 2012, up from 747 in 2011.

Origination volumes declined 7% from a year earlier and 17% from the second quarter.

A day encouraging people to recycle and cut down on clutter.

The American Bankers Association has lined up Stonegate Mortgage Corp. to serve as a secondary market investor for its mortgage cooperative, Community Bank Mortgage.

“I think it’s reasonable to expect that premiums will rise,” said one Washington-based consultant close to the issue.

Loan officers with strong ties to Realtors and builders will be in demand.

Interthinx has expanded its suite with a new MERS compliance audit service.

Unless there is a recession the nation could see a mini-boom in new home construction as housing inventory falls.

Freddie Mac received positive news from Fitch Ratings as it was deemed to demonstrate high performance in overall servicing ability for commercial mortgage-backed securities.