Public builder Beazer Homes USA plans to buy privately held Venture Homes for $65 million in a move that could make mortgage lending in Atlanta more competitive.

The deal is designed to improve capital ratios and reduce risk at the Seattle company.

The shareholders of Nationstar Mortgage Holdings and WMIH Corp. each voted to approve a $1.9 billion acquisition plan that will see the parent company of nonbank lender and servicer Mr. Cooper combine with the successor to S&L and subprime mortgage lender Washington Mutual.

Ditech Holding Corp. is considering selling itself, just over four months after the lender emerged from bankruptcy protection.

Commerce Home Mortgage and its parent company, The Capital Corps, are acquiring LoanStar Home Loans as a move to expand access to capital throughout the Northwest and Texas.

Ocwen Financial is able to keep the answers to questions from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau involving the improper handling of escrow accounts confidential, a federal magistrate ruled.

Mortgage debt outstanding remains below pre-crisis levels and home equity is growing, even as overall consumer debt is on pace to surpass its previous 2008 peak by $1 trillion, according to LendingTree.

Ruoff Financial will make its first push into banking with the purchase of SBB Bancshares.

Blue Lion Capital, which has been a vocal critic of the Seattle company's strategy, also wants management to consider selling its MSR portfolio.

Century Communities has acquired the 50% of regional builder Wade Jurney Homes it didn't already own to boost its mortgage and title operations and reach more first-time homebuyers.