Origination

National real estate company Redfin is looking for a new tenant to take over the Frisco, Texas office space that housed its now-shuttered mortgage division.

As revenues are bottoming out for this group of depositories, some are totally retreating from residential real estate finance, the head of Citizens Financial Group said at a conference.

After 90 years, it is time to examine whether the system is still fulfilling its intended mission to provide liquidity for its members to make mortgages.

Lenders are using third-party sources, which provide insights ranging from consumers' credit profile to social media messaging, to supplement information they collect.

But the shift to a purchase market means issues around employment and income verification should concern originators.

By offering financial education through local crisis centers and community groups — and following through with access to credit — many credit unions are building trust with people who had been wary of working with mainstream institutions.

Also, the percentage of loan-to-value ratios in all buckets above 50% shrunk between the first and second quarter, according to a new CoreLogic report on homeowner equity.

Younger mortgage tech software developers reveal new efficiencies they're creating for lenders.

Rate and term refinance activity has practically disappeared compared with 12 months ago, and volume for the less rate sensitive cash-out product is much lower.

The Mortgage Bankers Association forecast comes as bankers continue keeping an eye on their commercial real estate portfolios, including office buildings. The MBA also noted that many companies have long-term leases on their offices, likely making the hit more gradual.