Originations

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are turning into cash machines. But who will get that cash?

A strong sign that the housing market is improving was seen just looking at the attendance figures from the Mortgage Bankers Association’s annual convention in Chicago.

The average for fixed-rate mortgages dropped to new record lows during the week ending Nov. 15.

Overall, consumers gave the industry an average score of 761 (on a 1,000-point scale) in 2012, up from 747 in 2011.

Origination volumes declined 7% from a year earlier and 17% from the second quarter.

A day encouraging people to recycle and cut down on clutter.

The American Bankers Association has lined up Stonegate Mortgage Corp. to serve as a secondary market investor for its mortgage cooperative, Community Bank Mortgage.

“I think it’s reasonable to expect that premiums will rise,” said one Washington-based consultant close to the issue.

Loan officers with strong ties to Realtors and builders will be in demand.

Interthinx has expanded its suite with a new MERS compliance audit service.

Unless there is a recession the nation could see a mini-boom in new home construction as housing inventory falls.

Freddie Mac received positive news from Fitch Ratings as it was deemed to demonstrate high performance in overall servicing ability for commercial mortgage-backed securities.

The chief executive of Suffolk Bancorp wasted little time in delivering on his promise to diversify its balance sheet.

Nationwide, new applications rose 12.6% on a sequential basis. During the first week of the hurricane business fell 5%.

Loree came highly recommended by a Realtor friend of mine. She has no mortgage or real estate experience, and most recently worked in a law office.

Mortgage bankers should let the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and state regulators know about any Hurricane Sandy-related problems at their shops.

Alfred Pollard said $1 trillion of household debt delinquent in the second quarter of 2012 support his case that are a housing crisis still lingers.

Just when housing begins to show true signs of a recovery, the fiscal cliff strikes.

The exodus from the financial services panel is bipartisan, with five Democrats leaving the 61-member committee while seven Republicans follow suit.

EverBank Mortgage is one of the fastest growing residential lenders among the top 30.