Origination

First Niagara Financial Group Inc. in Buffalo, N.Y., reported a slight dip in earnings compared with the previous quarter as it completed its acquisition of NewAlliance Bancshares Inc.

Whitney Holding Corp. in New Orleans reported a profitable first quarter on Thursday, a day after the company that is buying it did the same.

WASHINGTON—The National Association of Independent Housing Professionals is giving up—for now—on its legal battle against the Federal Reserve Board to block the agency’s just-implemented loan officer compensation rule.

No part of the mortgage business is more ubiquitous in the use of celebrity spokespeople like the reverse mortgage segment.

Redwood Trust officials have been hearing plenty of talk about other firms entering the jumbo MBS space—but aren’t holding their breath about seeing new bonds issued anytime soon.

The Federal Housing Administration has selected 18 lenders to test borrower demand for loans that can make their homes more energy efficient.

SunTrust Banks, Atlanta, had mortgage production and servicing income of $71 million for the first quarter, down 35% from the fourth quarter 2010 due to lower mortgage production volume and reduced gain on sales margins.

Despite heavy refinancing volume in the fourth quarter, mortgage lenders faced operational cross currents that reduced their profits on every loan produced.

The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will provide nearly $65 million to help improve or create housing and economic development opportunities for low- to moderate-income Native-American families nationwide.

Numerous mortgage brokers and loan officers apparently rushed to get as many loans as possible into the pipeline before their compensation plans changed this month.