Law and regulation

Increased overhead to support back-office compliance is driving up origination expenses to the point that mortgage bankers lost nine basis points on the loan origination function during the first quarter, preliminary Mortgage Bankers Association data show.

Congressional inaction on debt forgiveness provision leads to more foreclosures.

New York regulator Benjamin Lawksy plans to eliminate several layers of review for mortgage bankers to apply for a license or a new branch location, and to expand an investigation into the affiliated businesses of nonbank servicers.

Citi's move may bring much-needed liquidity to a segment of the mortgage market that most of the big banks, with the exception of Wells Fargo, abandoned in the aftermath of the crisis.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman renewed calls for the state legislature to address the problem of "zombie properties," or foreclosed homes that banks have walked away from to avoid the cost of maintenance.

Freddie Mac has long struggled to compete with larger rival Fannie Mae because the former's mortgage-backed securities trade at a discount to the latter's. Their new regulator may change that.

Last month, BMO Harris Bank changed policies on auto lending to pay a flat percentage of the loan amount to auto dealers making loans (sound familiar?).

Regulators' recent moves to encourage mortgage lenders to relax standards have reignited a contentious debate.

The mortgage life support provided by the federal government since the crash is ebbing. It will be interesting to see if the industry can breathe on its own now.

• Top 50 Service Providers
• Lead Gen Logistics
• Commentary & Opinion

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro is in line to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development, part of an administration reshuffling that would bring a Democratic up-and-comer to President Obama's cabinet.

The right use of technology will allow the originator to be the first responder to an inquiry.

The normally even-keeled moderate Sen. Mark Warner warned fellow Democrats voting against a housing finance reform that when Fannie and Freddie need another taxpayer bailout, it will be their fault.

Democratic lawmakers on the Senate Banking Committee sounded off against bipartisan legislation to overhaul the mortgage finance system on Thursday, opposition that likely all but ruins the bill's chances of making it to the chamber floor this year.

Buyers still exist for mortgage platforms. The problem is that the gap in pricing expectations for buyers and sellers has widened since refinance activity stalled last summer.

The Senate Banking Committee passed major legislation to overhaul the housing finance system on Thursday.

The dim prospects for Congress doing anything to overhaul the system dominated by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac leaves a host of big questions about what happens to the mortgage sector going forward.

So, every week I write a column in this space, and often I get some interesting feedback.

Massachusetts Attorney General Martha Coakley reiterated calls Wednesday for the Federal Housing Finance Agency to allow Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to offer principal reductions to distressed borrowers and to participate in nonprofit home buyback programs.

Clarifying if a gift card giveaway on my business Facebook page is a violation of the anti-kickback section of RESPA.