Originations

The Federal Housing Administration is following through with its pledge to increase upfront and annual insurance premiums on its forward single-family business.

Redwood Trust - the nation's only active securitizer of jumbo MBS - posted a $3 million loss in the fourth quarter, compared to a profit of $15 million in the year ago period, but is promising to plough ahead in the PLS market.

The New England Mortgage Expo took place on January 13, 2012 at the MGM Grand at Foxwoods, in Connecticut. Frank Abagnale of the movie "Catch Me If You Can" was there.

Tree.com lost $1.1 million in the fourth quarter, after experiencing reduced revenue from its lead generation business. It also took a $5.6 million impairment charge on intangible assets.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has decided to shift course before finalizing changes to the good faith estimate form, a project the bureau has been working on diligently since last summer.

What will be the story of this decade in the mortgage industry? It will be the return of the market to normalcy (or a new normal). The question is: when?

The answer to that question is: tight credit with unemployment being the runner-up. Although some naysayers believe the job picture hasn't improved much, there are many realists who think otherwise. But one thing we can agree upon is this: employment is not booming.

An index from the National Association of Realtors that tracks pending home sales edged up 2% in January to the highest level since April 2010 when the government was still handing out homebuyer tax credits.

MetLife may be exiting the residential lending business, but in the commercial mortgage business, it is going strong as it produced over $11 billion in new loans last year, its best year ever. In 2010, the company had production of $8 billion in commercial real estate loans.

Business abandoned by some the nation's largest mortgage lenders as they have shuttered major production channels, or closed shop entirely, has mostly landed at other mortgage giants.

As companies like MetLife exit the business, creating new office and personnel recruitment opportunities for mortgage lenders, a survey from Hammerhouse LLC of originators found that 42% are looking for corporate culture and leadership from a possible new employer.

Testimonials, in their most basic sense, are others selling you and your services. A third party recommendation of your work can be a powerful marketing tool. Someone had a positive experience with you and in turn, has the ability to influence potential clients. If utilized effectively, you can't get a less expensive, more persuasive marketing strategy.

FACTS: On Feb. 13, Patricia Ann King of Bakersfield, pleaded guilty to aiding and assisting the preparation of a false tax document and to three counts of mail fraud for her role in a mortgage fraud scheme.

State and federal disclosure differences could be a challenge as U.S. regulators continue to work toward improving the Good Faith Estimate and consumers' understanding of it.

Twenty-four hours after Bank of America told Fannie Mae to take a hike on secondary market purchases, the realization is starting to sink in that one party -- the GSE -- may stand to lose a lot more than the seller/servicer.

Flagstar Bancorp, the nation's ninth largest residential lender, late this week agreed to pay up to $133 million to settle claims regarding unspecified underwriting practices associated with loans insured by the Federal Housing Administration.

First off, I'd like to thank the crew at Bank of America for continually giving mortgage reporters and editors something to write about. Don't get me wrong--there's plenty of good stories out there. And let's face it--and you read it here first: What happens regulatory and legislatively over the next three to four years should shape the future of this industry for the next 50 years.

The National Association of Home Builders is forecasting a modest but measured improvement in the remodeling and renovation sector, which has been troubled by the same conditions that have inhibited the new home sector.

Builders put up the fewest houses last year since World War II, but they were the largest houses ever.

First American Financial Corp., Santa Ana, Calif., earned $40 million in the fourth quarter, a 14% decline from the same period a year earlier as direct premiums and escrow fees fell slightly.