Origination

Construction of new single-family homes fell flat in March after dropping 9% in February, according to government figures released Tuesday morning.

Mortgage standards are already too tight and the Consumer Financial Protection Agency should not make them even tighter in drafting a final 'qualified mortgage' rule, according to a new letter signed by 33 lender, housing and consumer groups.

Some regulators are using the state-run National Mortgage Licensing System to ride herd over more than just the mortgage business.

Political pressure backed with money can be very persuasive in Washington and it may provide relief for some underwater borrowers with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.

Median home prices in California for March saw their first rise in 16 months on a year-over-year basis -- at 1.6% -- while the 9.2% increase from February was the largest sequential gain in almost eight years.

Improved asset quality and declining expenses powered Washington Federal in Seattle to a $34 million profit in the quarter that ended March 31, a 32% increase from the same period in 2011.

Anthony J. Simich, a division vice president for eWarehouseOne, resigned from the firm late last week, telling National Mortgage News that the company is having trouble closing lines of credit.

Loan originator compensation rules were originally adopted by the Federal Reserve Board in September 2010 and covered institutions were required to comply with the provisions on April 6, 2011.

As depositories continue to balance the need for conserving resources with expanding their presence with branch locations, some technologists believe that video conferencing would likely become a bigger trend for mortgage originators.

Rumors are starting to surface that if and when a 'HARP 3.0' program is unveiled it will include non-GSE loans. As one commenter told us, "There are a lot of Alt-A loans that look just like GSE loans, but went to private investors. Why should they be punished because their loan was sold to the wrong investor?"