Originations

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending July 12.

While mortgage rates remained unchanged this past week, further drops are possible as signs from the Federal Reserve point to a short-term rate cut at its next meeting.

A decline in refinancings led to a drop in mortgage application volume last week, even though purchase activity continues to rise, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Lenders who employ a technology stack that tracks, collects and analyzes homebuyer behavior will have a distinct advantage as application volume rises.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending July 5

Mortgage application activity was virtually flat from one week earlier, down just 0.1%, although there was a huge gain in Federal Housing Administration refinance volume, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending June 28.

Making low-balance loans with poor economies of scale is tough in a market with slim margins, but it could have its rewards.

The refinance share of mortgage applications climbed to the highest level since January 2018 as the average 30-year fixed interest rate continued tumbling, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

LoanDepot will accelerate hiring initiatives in the third and fourth quarter as it plans to add 1,400 new jobs by the end of 2019. The company credits its technology efforts for the growth opportunities.

Large banks had huge losses from originating mortgages in 2018 as costs were three times higher than similar-sized independent lenders, according to research conducted by Stratmor and the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending June 21.

Live Well Financial's creditors are seeking a court-supervised bankruptcy, but the mortgage lender is opposing the move, saying it can get more for certain assets if it sells them before filing.

As mortgage rates dip lower and lower through home buying season, the rate of closing loan applications keeps climbing, according to Ellie Mae.

As officials prepare plans for the government-sponsored enterprises' exit from conservatorship, there's no shortage of speculation about what those plans might look like and how they might affect the mortgage industry.

Mortgage applications decreased by 3.4% this week, although refinance activity remained close to its 2019 high point, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Ditech Holding Corp. has entered into purchase agreements with New Residential Investment Corp. and Mortgage Assets Management, in which each would acquire certain assets in the company's Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

With mortgage rates expected to continue their recent slides over the next 18 months, in tandem with slowed economic growth, loan originations should see a jump through 2020, according to Fannie Mae.

In cities across the country, the affordable housing situation spans a bleak spectrum. In light of this, the Mortgage Bankers Association launched an initiative to address the needs of underserved markets.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending June 14.