Data and information management

Ellie Mae has agreed to purchase St. Louis-based Mortgage Returns, which provides customer-relationship management services.

By using data from both post-closing and prefunding quality control reviews, lenders can craft a more proactive prefunding QC strategy that takes into account high-risk areas that are specific to their businesses.

Mortgage credit availability increased in September on offerings of Freddie Mac's affordable lending programs, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Employment at nonbank mortgage banking and brokerage firms was steady in August, ending a six-month run of job gains.

The Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data set to be released in the next few weeks will offer new proof that mortgage lending activity was stronger than expected last year. That fresh data, the likely delay in Fed action on rates and other factors could prompt higher volume estimates for 2015.