Originations

Did you know that Veterans Affairs loan assumptions are not restricted to veterans who have VA eligibility? Anyone can assume a VA loan if they meet the occupancy, credit and income requirements set forth by the VA.

Cascade Bancorp in Bend, Ore., has agreed to sell about $108 million of problem loans, generating $58 million in proceeds in an effort to remain well capitalized.

Boston Federal Reserve Bank president Eric Rosengren wants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to do more to refinance homeowners and address housing market problems.

LoopNet, a company that tracks all commercial real estate transactions nationwide including office, industrial, retail, multifamily, hotel, land, specialty properties and businesses for sale, has made changes to improve its database.

Product and pricing engine NYLX is adding to its platform a Mortgage Harmony loan product that gives borrowers at certain times the option of lowering their rates to market level.

An insurance product, which is supposed to protect homeowners from declines in property values, is now being marketed in Ohio with plans to roll it out nationwide.

Marketing to single females is one of several ways credit unions can capture mortgage loans, according to experts who spoke at the America Credit Union Mortgage Association's Annual Conference in Las Vegas Tuesday.

There is a shortage of housing in Great Britain for senior citizens and not enough new properties are being built to cover the future demand, says a provider of retirement homes. And it is up to the government to fix the situation.

Aside from the inertia in Congress, Washington is looking good. The Washington area housing market, that is.

Applications for new mortgages jumped 9.3% for the week ending September 23, a sign that ultra low rates are finally spurring new business activity.

The Archstone Foundation has given $1.3 million in grants to organizations in nine California counties that will allow older Americans to age in their homes.

Moody's Investors Services sees no broad-based recovery in commercial real estate markets over the next year due to weakness in demand and what it calls "diminished lending."

A year ago when Bank of America announced that it was killing its wholesale division, it appeared as though loan brokers might be down for the count. Not only were firms still exiting the sector, but new, restrictive federal loan officer compensation rules set for the spring appeared to be the final nail in the coffin.

WASHINGTON—Since March 2008, the housing market has depended on government-backed loans with a maximum limit of up to $729,750 in high-cost areas. But all that is about to end with Congress resigned to allowing the maximum limit to drop back to $625,500 on Oct. 1.

More Americans are using remote work arrangements, such as working from a home office these days, while survey data shows support either arguments—that these arrangements are more productive or they are productivity killers.

Home prices rose almost 1% in July following a 1.2% increase in June, according to the new Standard & Poor's/Case-Shiller house price index.

The hiring situation in the mortgage business has been dismal. Total employment has fallen from a high of more than 500,000 at the top of the market to less than half of that currently.

For the last two years, commercial real estate price indices have been fluctuating and it does not appear any recovery is going to happen soon, Moody's said in its weekly credit outlook report.

New homes sold at an annualized rate of just 295,000 units in August, the worst reading in six months, according to new government figures released Monday morning.

Ranieri Real Estate Partners and private equity funds affiliated with WL Ross & Co. have agreed to acquire Deutsche Bank Berkshire Mortgage today.