Originations

Brian Hale, the former head of Stearns Lending, will be leading a new financial services unit at William Lyon Homes that encompasses two joint ventures the builder has with mortgage companies.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending March 2.

The new Federal Reserve Board chairman's testimony in Congress was the driver of this week's mortgage rate increase, according to Freddie Mac.

Higher levels of purchase activity even with rising interest rates drove the increase in mortgage applications compared with one week earlier.

In a move designed to recruit and retain high-quality origination staff and fuel its expansion plans, USA Mortgage is turning over 100% control of the St. Louis-based nonbank lender to its workers through an employee stock ownership plan.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Feb. 23.

Financial services groups are calling for more funding for the Internal Revenue Service that could fix flaws in the agency's system for verifying the income of mortgage applicants.

The deadline to participate in the Top Producers Survey is Wed. Feb. 28 at 6 p.m. EST. The 20th annual loan officer ranking has a number of new features to highlight the accomplishments of the industry's top performers.

With 30-year mortgage rates reaching a four-year high, loan application activity was lower this past week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Feb. 16.