Originations

The committees that have been filtering transaction proposals for Fitch Ratings since the first quarter of 2009 began registering their first formal rejections of global commercial MBS securities proposals during the third quarter.

Third-quarter earnings for the mortgage insurers and title insurers will show two industries heading in different directions, analysts from Keefe, Bruyette & Woods declared. They raised their operating earnings estimates for title insurers, who should have better-than-expected results for the third quarter as a result of refinancings.

A survey conducted by Zillow reveals that most homebuyers know how to purchase a house -- but their expectations for homeownership are out of line with reality.

Valley National Bancorp, Wayne, N.J., said its third-quarter profit rose 8.3% from the same period last year, as it made more real estate loans.

Investor demand for commercial real estate loan portfolios in boththe U.S. and Europe appear to be rising, but these are “two different markets right now,” according to one expert.

In today's constantly connected and always-communicating environment, why is it that—it seems to me, anyway—communication skills are worse than ever?

The moribund mortgage insurance business of Old Republic International Corp., Chicago, lost $238 million on a pretax basis in the third quarter, driving the parent company to a $117 million net loss for the period.

Viewpoint Bank, Plano, Texas, ended the third quarter with $910 million of warehouse lending commitments on its books, a handsome 26% gain compared to the same period a year ago.

Lawmakers are questioning Bank of America's recent transfer of derivatives from its Merrill Lynch subsidiary to its retail bank subsidiary.

Bank of America is working "very hard" on a short sale-to-lease program for distressed borrowers who don't qualify for government-backed refinance programs.

The nation's second largest title insurer, First American Financial Corp., earned $21 million in the third quarter, a 36% decline compared to the same period a year ago as revenues fell 3% due to a decline in title premiums.

The average rate charged on most mortgage products remained relatively stable for the week ending October 27, hovering near their recent lows, according to figures compiled by Freddie Mac.

The number of consumers who signed contracts to buy homes fell for the third straight month in September after the traditional spring/summer buying season failed to entice many new buyers.

During the first nine months of the year Fannie Mae issued $16.7 billion of multifamily MBS, already surpassing its volume for all of last year.

After dropping 1.5% in 2011, home prices should be flat next year and finally gain traction in 2013, according to Macroeconomic Advisers chairman Joel Prakken.

Social media survival skills—if you want to become famous in your little corner of the mortgage world, there are some things you simply must do!

The Federal Housing Administration endorsed $217.8 billion of 'forward' single-family loans in fiscal year 2011, down 27% from the previous year, according to new figures released by HUD.

With outsourcing and industry needs in general more focused on the servicing side of the business today, it begs the question of how third-party providers are positioning themselves to make the eventual, cyclical shift to a more origination-focused market. It appears the answer is that most are counting on modifications as the likely linchpin for the change.

Trustmark National Bank, Jackson, Miss., has set up a new mortgage lending shop in Birmingham, Ala., to serve its growing retail and wholesale customer base in the state.

The climb out of the real estate depression will be a long, slow one for all but one market sector: apartments, according to the annual Emerging Trends outlook report.