Economy

Opus Capital Markets Consultants, a unit of Wipro, has created a division for identifying operational and loan-level risks within a residential mortgage servicing operation.

Freddie Mac has taken out another reinsurance policy that transfers risk of default on mortgages it insures.

Mortgage applications declined last week, despite having a favorable comparison to the previous week, which had only four business days, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The delinquency rate on commercial mortgage-backed securities dropped sharply in January, thanks to the resolution of New York's Stuyvesant Town loan, according to Trepp.

ZipLogix, a maker of real estate software, has formed a partnership with Roostify.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac unveiled an appeals process Tuesday that will allow an independent arbitrator to resolve disputes between lenders and the government-sponsored enterprises over loan repurchase demands.

Home prices rose in December in both yearly and monthly comparisons, according to CoreLogic.

Lenders argue that the GSEs would be better off buying more loans that are already insured, rather than transferring credit risk after holding them for a time. But Freddie Mac's Kevin Palmer says certainty of reimbursement is more important than the timing of risk transfers.

The near future may find more banks ceasing to originate residential mortgages in an effort to stop the slide in stock prices.

Loan originations for commercial and multifamily properties climbed in the fourth quarter compared to last year, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency's Duty-to-Serve rule must include a substantive commitment from the government-sponsored enterprises to purchase chattel loans.

The national median-priced home requires 21% of median incomes for purchase, Black Knight Financial Services said.

The final deadline for all Top Producers Survey responses is here. All entries must be submitted online by 6 p.m. EST Monday, Feb. 1.

United Guaranty's spinoff from American International Group will result in changes to its capital structure that could shake up the competitive landscape in the private mortgage insurance market.

Walter Investment Management Corp. has acquired a servicing platform and other assets from Residential Credit Solutions.

Urban homes are now worth more than suburban homes, as Americans place a greater value on living in cities and in high-rise condos, according to Zillow.

Lenders are originating more mortgages for subprime borrowers, according to Equifax.

TFS Financial in Cleveland reported a higher fourth-quarter profit, citing a $1 million negative loan-loss provision.

Credit default swap spreads have widened substantially for MGIC Investment Corp. since the start of the new year, reflecting changes in policy pricing, according to a report from Fitch Solutions.

Radian Group reported net income of $287 million, compared with $960 million for 2014, but that year's results were boosted by a tax allowance reversal.