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Mortgage applications fell almost 4% for the holiday week ending December 30, according to new figures compiled by the Mortgage Bankers Association. The decline is calculated on a sequential basis.

Publicly traded REIT Two Harbors Investment Corp. is laying the groundwork for a $200 million jumbo MBS deal, partnering with Barclays Bank PLC.

Despite improvements in the job market and low mortgage rates, Federal Reserve officials seem disappointed that their efforts to perk up housing are having little impact, according to minutes of the central bank's December monetary policy committee meeting.

The top 10 sellers of mortgages to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac pay 20 basis points in guarantee fees compared to 30 bps for firms outside the top 100, according to a new report from Keefe Bruyette & Woods.

Another big year for multifamily construction could push housing starts up 13% in 2012 after posting a 4% increase last year, according to a new forecast from Wells Fargo Securities.

November was the second best month of last year in terms of new private mortgage insurance written, but new applications received declined from October, according to the Mortgage Insurance Cos. of America.

Commercial mortgages had a mixed year in the securitized secondary markets during 2011 and the outlook for 2012 is that the sector still faces some hurdles but may hold some opportunities.

"Nothing happens until something gets sold." I've repeated this statement in just about every article I've written about business and the selling process. My instructional and training philosophy is simple, easy and effective so it would stand to reason that you don't have to have an IQ off the charts to comprehend my approach to sales training and coaching.

Wholesale lender 360 Mortgage Group has been dropping overlays on the conforming loan products it sources from mortgage brokers and at press time planned to ship the bulk of its production to the agencies rather than correspondent purchasers.

MGIC Investment Corp., at yearend contributed $200 million of cash to its mortgage insurance subsidiary as two important capital waiver deadlines expired.