Originations

New York Community Bancorp had first-quarter earnings of $119 million, down from $123 million in 4Q12 and slightly above the $118 million reported for 1Q12.

Flagstar Bancorp has returned to profitability, posting first-quarter net income of $22 million, compared with losses of $94 million in 4Q12 and $9 million in 1Q12.

There was virtually no change in the Mortgage Bankers Association’s seasonally adjusted Market Composite Index, Refinance Index or seasonally adjusted Purchase Index for the week ended April 19.

Credit score requirements today are much higher than before the financial crisis.

Late additions and data gathering issues have added a few names to our list.

A fake Twitter message saying a bomb went off at the White House only briefly derailed a rally on Tuesday.

A Mortgage Grapevine poster is seeking a commercial stated-income loan to purchase apartments and rehabilitate them.

Regions Financial Corp. said first-quarter profit rose 68%, beating analyst estimates as the lender cuts costs and reduced provisions for loan losses.

Discover Financial Services originated nearly $1 billion in direct mortgages during the first quarter of 2013.

A Maryland mortgage broker has entered a guilty plea in two separate fraud schemes.

Wells Fargo is expanding its home-lending headquarters in Iowa as it plans for growth even while the industry predicts a slowing market.

New home sales rose 1.5% in March after a 7.6% decline in the prior month.

PennyMac Mortgage Investment Trust earned $53 million in 1Q13, compared with $49 million in 4Q12 and $19 million in 1Q12.

Bank of Hawaii reported lower 1Q13 earnings in part because of reduced mortgage income and the company’s stock price declined 3.18% on Monday.

The $52 million decline in warehouse loans, which Sierra also attributed to the reduction in refinance activity, equaled the decline in Sierra’s total assets.

The California Association of Realtors reported that the share of REO and short sales fell to 29% of sales in March from 33% in February.

Single-family home sales in Florida increased 9% in March over the same month last year while pending sales increased 23%.

Five Ten Capital closed a $100 million financing facility with Deutsche Bank that is backed by mortgages on rental homes.

Regulatory oversight continues to be a top issue facing the origination industry in industry recruiting firm Hammerhouse’s latest annual survey of active participants in that market.

President Obama’s budget includes the possibility of a $943 million bailout of the Federal Housing Administration and its Mortgage Insurance Premium Fund.