Originations

The range of loan products offered by mortgage lenders and investors has been narrow since the housing crisis, but a few underserved niches are starting to make a comeback.

Lenders thrive with clear communication from the top executive and an operations team offered ample support.

The rate of mortgage applications with defective information fell in June, reversing the upward movement from earlier this year, according to First American Financial.

Housing markets are steadily improving nationwide, according to the latest Freddie Mac's Multi-Indicator Market Index.

Demand for home purchases rose in June although more slowly than in previous months, the online real estate brokerage Redfin said. The firm also projected a slowdown in the rise of home values.

The U.S. economy was stronger than expected, according to Fannie Mae's analysis of this year's second quarter.

Astoria Financial in Lake Success, N.Y., reported a 40% increase in second-quarter earnings as stronger fee income from mortgages helped it overcome a considerable shrinkage in loans.

Mortgage professional hiring and new job appointments for the week ending July 24.

Purchases of new homes unexpectedly retreated in June and prior readings were revised down, painting a picture of less robust improvement during the industry's busiest time of year.

Ares Management LP and Kayne Anderson Capital Advisors LP are merging to create Ares Kayne Management LP, an alternative investment group whose $113 billion in assets will rank it among the world's biggest private equity firms. Ares Management's real estate group provides debt and equity financing for commercial properties.

One of the biggest U.S. mortgage lenders is looking to disrupt the disruptors in the market for peer-to-peer loans.

F.N.B. in Pittsburgh reported higher second-quarter profit as it booked more commercial real estate and business loans.

National Penn Bancshares in Allentown, Pa., said its second-quarter profit improved as increased real estate lending offset higher expenses.

U.S. housing-finance reform may be even more remote thanks to a provision in the Senate's transportation bill that uses the mortgage giants as a source for funds, according to lawmakers and industry groups.

Interest rates for fixed mortgages fell in the week ending July 23, but short-term adjustable-rate mortgages saw modest increases, according to Freddie Mac's primary mortgage market survey.

Home sales involving distressed properties and cash sales both declined in June compared to a year ago, according to RealtyTrac.

Old Republic International Corp. doubled its title insurance revenue during the second quarter, while First American Corp.'s commercial title business was a significant driver of growth.

Texas Capital Bancshares in Dallas has formed a mortgage correspondent aggregation business line, to complement its existing mortgage finance business.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new integrated disclosure regulations could pose problems for warehouse line providers along with their mortgage lender clients.

Zillow Group in Seattle has agreed to buy DotLoop in Cincinnati, a provider of real estate document technology.