Originations

Record deposit growth, improved expense management and strong revenue gains from mortgage banking boosted Umpqua Holdings' profits in the third quarter.

Sales of previously owned homes increased more than projected in September, showing residential real estate continues to contribute modestly to growth.

Stewart Information Services Corp. is reshaping its board by adding three independent directors and its CEO to the panel as part of a settlement with its biggest shareholder, activist investor Starboard Value.

The second commercial mortgage securitization designed to comply with risk retention is backed by a single loan on a Manhattan skyscraper.

Refinance activity grew modestly in September, according to a report from Ellie Mae.

Black Knight Financial Services has integrated technology from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac with its LoanSphere Empower and LendingSpace loan origination systems.

Lenders asking whether bank loans are safe are missing the point and should instead be more concerned with the standard they apply when underwriting them.

The Internal Revenue Service's indefinite delay of a deadline for a new authentication procedure has headed off concerns about potential interruptions in mortgage production.

Mortgage applications increased 0.6% from one week earlier as rates rose 5 basis points on 30-year conforming and jumbo loans, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Profit improved at M&T Bank in the third quarter as the Buffalo, N.Y., company expanded commercial and mortgage lending and completed the sale of a large investment-securities portfolio.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau decried an appeals court ruling last week that found its single-director structure unconstitutional, saying the opinion was "wrongly decided" and had "no basis in the text of the Constitution or in Supreme Court case law."

New-home construction unexpectedly fell in September on a plunge in multifamily building while permits rose more than forecast, in signs of fitful progress in residential real estate.

Confidence among homebuilders cooled in October from an 11-month high, reflecting a pause in the market for single-family houses.

Comerica is gaining momentum after a rough start to 2016.

Regions Financial reported a higher third-quarter profit, citing improved fee income from mortgage lending, capital markets and credit and debit cards.

Lenders and servicers haven't faced the same scrutiny over data security as their peers in retail and other financial services sectors. But mortgage companies must remain vigilant, as the extensive data they collect can expose consumers to identity theft if it got in the wrong hands.

Upcoming look-backs of key Dodd-Frank provisions like the Qualified Mortgage rule are unlikely to result in new regulatory changes. But any effort to revisit already-implemented rules should give cause for concern, legal experts warn.

While compliance costs continue to increase for lenders, the rising age of company owners is what's prompting many independent mortgage bankers to sell their companies.

Fluctuations in home price and wage gains have created a volatile outlook for housing affordability across the country. By better deciphering market data, mortgage companies can hone their strategies to respond to prevailing economic trends.

To successfully respond to the most pressing challenges facing the mortgage industry right now, lenders and servicers must navigate issues of competition, governance, affordability and margins.