Originations

The California Association of Realtors and the California District Attorneys Association have launched a campaign to warn homeowners about the alarming increase in scams targeting foreclosure victims.

The former MetLife Home Loans branch in Omaha, Neb., has become part of Gateway Mortgage Group, Tulsa, Okla.

Timios Inc., a national title and escrow company, is purchasing Glenn County Title Co., Willows, Calif., pending approval from state regulators.

Based on the comments appearing on our blogs and message boards, loan officers and mortgage brokers are overwhelmingly Republican. They don’t like too much regulation and given what’s transpired because of Dodd-Frank (regarding loan officer compensation) they’re fighting an uphill battle concerning how much money they can earn.

The Federal Housing Administration’s support for the condominium market continues to fall, but agency officials are hoping to reverse that trend.

Based on the comments appearing on our blogs and message boards, loan officers and mortgage brokers are overwhelmingly Republican. They don’t like too much regulation and given what’s transpired because of Dodd-Frank (regarding loan officer compensation) they’re fighting an uphill battle concerning how much money they can earn.

Silvergate Bank said its warehouse lending division funded 1,570 loans totaling $419 million in the first quarter.

Residential lenders will continue to enjoy high gain-on-sale margins during the remainder of the second quarter, but those profits will be down compared to 1Q—which was exceptional—according to new research from Credit Suisse.

In order to remain competitive, small lenders need to integrated underwriting systems and the ability to provide market, sponsor and property history reports and information at the push of a button.

Impac Mortgage Holdings recorded a “significant” year-over-year expansion of its mortgage lending in the first quarter, but other costs largely stemming from legacy issues produced a consolidated net loss of $4.8 million during the period.

Most Federal Reserve officials foresee a continued slow recovery in the housing market and some are optimistic the improvement may pleasantly surprise their fellow members on the Federal Open Market Committee.

A handout to give applicants on the 10 commandments when applying for a mortgage.

Insiders agree that certain types of solutions can serve as the best antidote to the still pervasive mortgage loan repurchase challenge.It is fueling a renewed drive to design tools that infuse all aspects of the mortgage production chain into coherent systems that are more efficient and transparent throughout the life of the loan.

Here's a fact you may not be aware of: properties governed by homeowner associations are the most rapidly growing form of housing in the U.S. today. Nearly 80% of new home construction is connected with an HOA or community association, according to the Community Associations Institute, the trade association representing HOAs.

A federal official Tuesday afternoon told a group of New York-based third-party origination professionals angered by new proposed compensation and pricing restrictions that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau would listen to their concerns and could still possibly change the proposals in line with them.

Capital Trust, a real estate investment trust that invests in commercial real estate loans and securities, said it is exploring "strategic alternatives" for the New York-based company.

Builders broke ground on more single-family homes in April than expected and the government revised upward its estimate of construction activity in March and February.

Quicken Loans Mortgage Services, a unit of Quicken Loans that provides services to banks, credit unions and mortgage originators, said it is going to add more than 75 people by the end of the year.

The other day a mortgage recruiter made a blunt statement to us: “Wholesale lending is really hot right now.” Of course, given what’s happened to the mortgage business the past few years and all the blame being placed on brokers for crappy loan quality, such a statement might be taken with a grain of salt.

A 13% increase in refinance applications led to a 9.2% seasonally adjusted increase in overall application volume for the week ended May 11, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.