Secondary

The industry expects to lean on technological efficiencies this year as higher rates and dwindling refinances test their businesses.

Ocwen Financial is a step closer to the day when it can resume purchases of mortgage servicing rights.

In a bitterly partisan Congress, two senators are making a rare push across party lines to solve a persistent riddle with huge implications for the U.S. housing market: What to do with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?

Suspending Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's regular dividend payments to the Treasury, thus enabling the companies to replenish their reserve capital, would put their future on better footing.

Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas President Robert Kaplan said the central bank should roll off both mortgage-backed securities and Treasury holdings when it begins to let its balance sheet shrink.

Despite the additional risks, originating mortgages for landlords of single-family rentals could help lenders fill the gap of waning refinance volume.

Fannie Mae has obtained reinsurance for $510 million of credit losses on $20.4 billion of single-family residential mortgages through a pair of credit insurance risk transfer transactions.

With refinance volume shrinking, some lenders are making up the difference by turning to alternative loan products for borrowers with lower credit scores.

Higher interest rates have reduced prepayments to levels not seen since 2014.