Economy

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.

Contracts to purchase previously owned homes rose less than forecast in December, indicating more tempered progress in residential real estate early this year.

The number of U.S. mortgages that were underwater continued to improve in the fourth quarter, although there are still millions of properties in the category, according to RealtyTrac.

The U.S. housing market continued to improve in November, as some local economies continued to bounce back from the recession, according to Freddie Mac.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development is reducing the mortgage insurance premiums it charges on Federal Housing Administration multifamily loans to encourage the renovation of affordable housing units and promote energy-efficient upgrades.

Interest rates on fixed-rate mortgages dropped again this week as the Fed decided to hang tight on interest rates, according to Freddie Mac.

The homeownership rate in the U.S. rose for a second straight quarter as job growth and loosening credit put an end to almost two years of steady declines.

Umpqua Holdings in Portland, Ore., posted stronger quarterly earnings because of an increase in mortgage banking fees and lower costs.

Residential markets will continue to rise in value over the next 12 months, according to Veros Real Estate Solutions.

Freddie Mac has priced a $757 million offering of structured pass-through certificates under its "K Certificates" program that securitizes recently originated multifamily mortgage loans.

Amid concerns about the added complexity of the TILA-RESPA integrated disclosures and growing demand for purchase loans, Flagstar Bancorp plans to reduce its over-reliance on third-party originations by expanding its retail mortgage business.

NVR Inc. in Reston, Va., reported more new orders and a higher mortgage capture rate in the fourth quarter from the previous year, the homebuilder reported Tuesday.

In the absence of congressional action on housing finance reform, here is what the Federal Housing Finance Agency should do sooner rather than later.