Origination

The FHA has critical lending programs for homebuyers, particularly first-timers, but will have to stop endorsing new mortgages if Congress cannot agree on a budget deal with the White House by midnight Friday and the federal government is forced to shutdown.

WASHINGTON—The Federal Housing Administration has been the “go-to” lending program of choice for homebuyers—especially first-timers—for the past few years. But that may be changing due to tighter government credit standards and higher mortgage insurance premiums.

The main reasons businesses look to market their services is to demonstrate what makes them stand out from the crowd, the stuff that makes them different from their competition.According to one marketing expert, small businesses are failing at this.

For thrifts that have long harbored ambitions of converting to commercial banks, an upcoming regulatory merger is forcing hard decisions.

Two broker trade groups filed their arguments in an appellate court Tuesday morning, hoping to stop the Federal Reserve Board's controversial rule on how loan officers are paid. A decision could come by close of day.

Industry veteran Tom Wind, who recently departed as managing director of J.I. Kislak Mortgage LLC, Miami Lakes, is expected to be hired by EverBank Financial Corp., Jacksonville, Fla., according to industry officials familiar with the matter.

A group of funds managed by Boston-based Highfields Capital Management increased its stake in mortgage technology and services vendor Lender Processing Services to 5.2% of common stock, according to new documents filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

A five-point plan drawn up by a minority real estate coalition is painted in brush strokes too broad to present a definitive blueprint for change in the lack of affordable housing, limited financing options and other socio-economic factors that result in less housing opportunities for low-income minority borrowers. But it may, however, lay the groundwork for new housing solutions.

In sales and selling, no technique or approach will work every time, all the time. Selling is numbers oriented. The more you employ an effective sales technique, the more likely success will follow. One of my 8,412 philosophical thoughts is, “Repetition is the key to success.”

WASHINGTON—The White House has spoken: not only does it want to pull the plug on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac—it wants a reduced role for the FHA program, which unlike the GSEs hasn’t lost a nickel of taxpayer money.