The Community Home Lenders Association and the Community Mortgage Lenders of America are combining under a new name, the Community Home Lenders of America.

The rating agency has revised the long-term issuer default rating for PacWest Bancorp and its banking subsidiary, Pacific Western Bank, from "BBB" to "BBB-" and says it doesn't expect the bank's common equity Tier 1 ratio to bounce back anytime soon.

The REIT is paying a $10.5 million premium to acquire the company, which will allow it to bring servicing in-house.

The Tennessee-based originator is now a private-label retail group, which has branches in Alabama and Kentucky in addition to its home state.

The deal also includes the Homefacts website

The company formerly known as UniversalCIS Credit Plus, which offers credit report services and appraisal technology, adds a new vertical to offer its mortgage lender clients.

Intercontinental Exchange's move to acquire Black Knight and Lower's purchase of Hamilton Home Loans are just some of the latest developments to monitor in the space.

And in other consolidation news, HomeServices of America’s Pickford Escrow Co. picks up competitor Legendary Escrow Services.

The transaction adds 11 branches in Virginia, Florida, North Carolina and Texas to AnnieMac's nationwide 60-plus office network.

The transaction formalizes the relationship started by a January investment in both companies by LLR Partners.