Originations

A spokeswoman for Capital One, the owner of ING Direct, has confirmed that ING Mortgage has left the wholesale channel.

Spring home sales are getting off to a "solid start," according to Wells Fargo Securities economists, who expect strong existing home sales this year and house prices bottoming out by the end of the first half.

WASHINGTON - A mortgage lender accused of discriminatory lending practices is planning to fight back against a Justice Department lawsuit - a move that may embolden other banks to follow suit.

Finale Document Services has created Spanish language reverse mortgage disclosure packages to comply with the unique real property requirements for Puerto Rico.

What are the most successful private companies operating in various financial markets including the mortgage space doing to prosper in 2012? Input from hundreds of Inc. 500 CEOs who have maintained above-average growth and profitability during tough economic conditions indicates there are six areas of focus that they considered key to their company's success.

At the urging of several trade groups, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has decided not to prohibit mortgage companies from using profits to make contributions to their loan officers' 401(k) plans.

With spring right around the corner, and signs of economic recovery everywhere, there is a feeling that brighter days are ahead. Glimmers of hope can even be seen in one of the most distressed U.S. housing markets in the country.

Lender Processing Services' latest Mortgage Monitor report revealed that foreclosure starts and sales declined significantly in February from the month before, a sign that the processing backlog problem is still far from resolved.

The Federal Housing Administration has made a last-minute attempt to soften new underwriting guidelines that penalized borrowers with ongoing credit disputes.

WASHINGTON - Months after the Justice Department announced its biggest fair lending settlement in history, the banking industry continues to brace itself for the fallout from a renewed government focus on fairness.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a bulletin Monday clarifying on an interim basis how compensation rules apply to qualified profit sharing, 401(k) and employee stock ownership plans.

Recently I attended the 2012 NMLS Annual Conference in Scottsdale, Ariz., and learned that there are still many challenges out in the licensing corner of mortgage lending. It was a great opportunity to meet with state and federal regulators, compliance professionals, licensing specialists, lawyers, and experts in the industry.

The House Financial Services Committee has approved a bill to enhance the FHA's authority to police bad lenders after rejecting an amendment that would have reduced the agency's loan guarantees.

Everybody is familiar with the line from the movie "Jerry Maguire," the one that goes "Show me the money!"

DBRS has rated a rare prime residential private-label RMBS backed by recently originated portfolio of loans and Fitch Ratings has issued an unsolicited rating on the deal.

Is there really much of a professional difference between loan officers who work for a bank versus a nonbank? I'm not picking sides, but recent comments to this column suggest that nonbank LOs feel they are better equipped to serve the consumer - and not necessarily because they have passed the state test.

Pacific Union Financial LLC, Walnut Creek, Calif., has hired Rick W. Skogg as its new president.

Months after the Justice Department announced its biggest fair lending settlement in history, the banking industry continues to brace itself for the fallout from a renewed government focus on fairness.

The extension of regulatory responsibilities to nonbank residential mortgage lenders and originators for suspicious activity reports and anti-money laundering efforts is far reaching, according to a recent discussion of the move by attorneys.

Mortgage loan options available have significantly shrunk during the past few years of the crisis to the point that makes some worry creativity is almost impossible, or simply dead. A closer look at borrower preferences and market data indicate product variations may not necessarily be a dare banks need to stay away from.