Originations

Purchases of new homes surged in December to the highest level in 10 months, closing out the best year for housing since 2007.

D.R. Horton is expanding its entry-level Express Homes brand amid first-time buyers' growing demand for both homes and mortgages.

Home prices in 20 U.S. cities rose at a faster pace in the year ended November, underscoring the shortage of supply amid steady demand.

American International Group announced $3.6 billion in new costs to fill a reserve shortfall and said it will hold an initial public offering for its mortgage insurer and sell an adviser network as CEO Peter Hancock seeks to boost returns and protect his job after criticism from activist investor Carl Icahn.

D.R. Horton, the largest U.S. homebuilder, reported fiscal first-quarter earnings that beat analyst estimates as sales increased.

Bank of New York Mellon has become a big believer in reverse mortgages, particularly home equity conversion mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration.

U.S. home prices rose 5.5% in November on a yearly basis, according to Black Knight Financial Services.

American International Group's plan to spin off a portion of its mortgage insurance unit is "almost pointless" given the challenges that CEO Peter Hancock faces to fix the much larger property-casualty business, an analyst at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods said.

American International Group Inc., the insurer being pressured by activist investor Carl Icahn to shrink the company, plans to pursue a partial spinoff of its mortgage guaranty unit.

John Kanas, BankUnited's CEO, said the business never turned a profit, and there were no indications that it would. The company, meanwhile, remains committed to other residential lending operations while focusing on expanding its other businesses across Florida.

Mortgage professional hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Jan. 22.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency may face legislation or a lawsuit in the near future as it tries to force captive insurance companies to exit the Federal Home Loan Bank System.

While a flourishing multifamily market is a boon to apartment lenders, increasing demand for units signals lean times are ahead for renters.

Purchases of previously owned homes rose more than projected in December, helped in part by warmer weather and wrapping up the best year since 2006.

First-time homebuyers are finally jumping into the U.S. property market.

Credit unions' share of the mortgage origination market has climbed steadily since the financial crisis. The sector expects to build on that momentum in 2016, even as significant headwinds loom.

Home prices rose 8.8% in December on a year-over-year basis, as the dearth of available homes forced prices up, according to Redfin.

MGIC Investment Corp. posted net income of $102.4 million in the fourth quarter, a gain of 36% from the $75.1 million it earned in the same period in 2014.

The average interest rate on the 30-year fixed rate mortgage rates fell this week to a three-month low, as investors exited stocks and commodities for the safety of government bonds.

Lenders must treat self-service technology as a tool that facilitates, rather than defines, the mortgage borrowing experience.