Origination

Sales of single-family homes, condominiums and cooperatives fell to a 4.55 million seasonally adjusted annual rate in May from a 4.62 million rate in April.

Worsening economic indicators in the past week have driven the average weekly rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage back downward to a new low of 3.66%.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac multifamily mortgage originations and mortgage debt outstanding will continue to show strong growth over the next 18 to 24 months.

To correspondent mortgage sellers and loan brokers, the ‘coincidental’ move by certain megabanks to only refinance FHA Streamlines that they are already servicing is a way to lock them out of the business.

Fitch Ratings has raised its ratings outlook for First American Financial and its subsidiaries to “positive” from “stable” because of the nation’s second largest title insurer’s capitalization, profitability and moderate financial leverage.

The weak economy throughout the state of Florida is affecting the bond financing of multifamily projects.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is forging ahead with its plan to release a single mortgage disclosure form by July 21, despite industry calls to slow down the process.

George L. Engelke Jr. has resigned as chairman of Astoria Financial, ending his long tenure with the Lake Success, N.Y., company that included a 22-year run as its chief executive officer.

The public relations department of JPMorgan Chase has finally made up its mind: the megabank will only engage in FHA Streamline refinancings on loans that it presently services.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is coming under industry pressure to delay finalizing a merger of the RESPA/TILA mortgage disclosure forms until the qualified mortgage and qualified residential mortgage rules are finalized.