Origination

GMAC Mortgage has hired Paul Ramos, a former regional manager handling Florida for MetLife Home Loans Inc., Irving, Texas.

Home builders, which are starting to see nascent signs of a recovery, have two looming problems: a large "shadow" REO inventory to compete against, and FHA premium increases, according to a new research report from Credit Suisse.

It's hard out there for an LO - unless, of course, you have purchase money experience. The ongoing refinancing boom won't last forever. (Then again, we've heard that before.) Talk to any mortgage CEO or sales executive and chances are he'll tell you that he's hiring - but only loan officers with key contacts with Realtors and builders, which means housing may finally be poised for a true recovery.

WASHINGTON--The wave of Hispanic homebuyers that was promised just before the market crashed is finally ready to storm the market, according to a new report from a group of real estate professionals dedicated to increasing ownership among Latinos.

Every sales person has his or her own technique, or method. That's a good thing. Selling techniques are the result of numerous forms of input that eventually became a technique. A sales manager may instruct their minions that this is the way their product or service needs to be sold.

U.S. Bancorp has moved all its home appraisals to an in-house unit overseen by a senior risk officer, breaking from the way most banks handle valuations of residential properties.

Industry veteran Luke Hayden, who took over as president of PHH Mortgage less than two years ago, resigned from the firm this week to pursue what the company calls "other interests."

Stonegate Mortgage, a fast growing nonbank lender based in Indianapolis, has received a $25 million investment form private equity fund, Long Ridge Equity Partners, and plans to use the money to grow both its servicing portfolio and third-party lending channels.

Posters at our discussion board at www.mortgagegrapevine.com aren't shy about expressing their opinions. Here's what they think about the FHA's premium hike.

Fannie Mae is making progress on cleaning up its massive alt-A portfolio, but the $182 billion of guarantees had an average LTV ratio of 101% at yearend, according to supplemental documents the GSE filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.