Origination

In today's constantly connected and always-communicating environment, why is it that—it seems to me, anyway—communication skills are worse than ever?

The moribund mortgage insurance business of Old Republic International Corp., Chicago, lost $238 million on a pretax basis in the third quarter, driving the parent company to a $117 million net loss for the period.

Viewpoint Bank, Plano, Texas, ended the third quarter with $910 million of warehouse lending commitments on its books, a handsome 26% gain compared to the same period a year ago.

Lawmakers are questioning Bank of America's recent transfer of derivatives from its Merrill Lynch subsidiary to its retail bank subsidiary.

Bank of America is working "very hard" on a short sale-to-lease program for distressed borrowers who don't qualify for government-backed refinance programs.

The nation's second largest title insurer, First American Financial Corp., earned $21 million in the third quarter, a 36% decline compared to the same period a year ago as revenues fell 3% due to a decline in title premiums.

The average rate charged on most mortgage products remained relatively stable for the week ending October 27, hovering near their recent lows, according to figures compiled by Freddie Mac.

The number of consumers who signed contracts to buy homes fell for the third straight month in September after the traditional spring/summer buying season failed to entice many new buyers.

During the first nine months of the year Fannie Mae issued $16.7 billion of multifamily MBS, already surpassing its volume for all of last year.

After dropping 1.5% in 2011, home prices should be flat next year and finally gain traction in 2013, according to Macroeconomic Advisers chairman Joel Prakken.