Marketing

Independent mortgage banks and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks managed to grow profits from the fourth quarter despite lower interest rates and production volume, according to the the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Rick Elmendorf's annual movie night — this year featuring the premier of the new Star Wars film — for his clients and business associates (along with their families) helps to create new referral relationships for this Washington Metro area loan officer.

Craig Strent of Apex Home Loans saw potential in blending his mortgage banking services with the strategy of financial advising, finding strong partners and a niche in helping clients through one of life's most difficult transitions.

Contracts to purchase previously owned U.S. homes climbed in April by the most since October 2010, adding to signs that the industry’s busy selling season was off to a good start, according to data released Thursday by the National Association of Realtors.

Purchases of new homes in the U.S. surged in April to the highest level since the start of 2008, pointing to a robust spring selling season for builders.

Staying on top of credit underwriting rules is essential for Rosalie Rains of Capital Financial Advisors, and when things get slow she can always turn to the two-color flier she made when she first started originating loans.

Here's a look at the 10 markets with a population of more than 500,000 that had the largest growth in home sales activity on a per capita basis during the first quarter, based on data from RealtyTrac.

Home sales growth has been tepid nationwide thanks largely to a cooling down of the housing market in the West, according to an analysis from Summit Valuations.

Rep. Maxine Waters, the top Democrat on the House Financial Services Committee, introduced legislation Thursday to reform consumer credit reporting.

Joseph Chacko works with H1B visa holders in ethnic communities, and uses his knowledge of agency guidelines and immigration policy to offer foreign workers a place to put down roots.

Savvy salespeople live by the motto ABC: Always Be Closing. Here's a look at loan officers featured in the Top Producers Rankings who took that mantra to new heights by posting triple-digit increases in their annual mortgage origination volume.

HomeBridge Financial's Michael Stallings took a desire to help military veterans and grew that into a hearty business focused on bringing other veterans the cornerstone of homeownership.

Lending standards tightened once again in April, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Posting educational videos on YouTube and social media helped Cherry Creek Mortgage's Kelly Zitlow land a spot on Lifetime Network's "Designing Spaces." The unique opportunity let her share knowledge about mortgages and extended her marketing reach.

Mortgage software provider Ellie Mae reported a dip in net income as a result of increased sales, marketing and research expenses that outweighed revenue gains.

More homebuyers are using social media to find out information about mortgage products and services, TD Bank reported in its Mortgage Service Index.

There should be contractual agreements in place between mortgage companies and loan officers that clearly define what, if any, customer information loan officers can bring from former employers to new ones.

Rates for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose slightly last week, as recent figures showing an active home-sales market suggest homebuyers are taking advantage of current conditions, according to Freddie Mac.

Home sellers realized a 17% average gain in price in March, the highest average gain since December 2007, according to RealtyTrac.

Total mortgage applications increased last week, due to an increase in refinance applications, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.