Originations

Mortgage rates rose for a second week, extending an increase in borrowing costs from an eight-month low.

A downpayment remains a high hurdle for consumers seeking mortgages. Lowering this hurdle increasingly seems in line with industry and regulatory goals—assuming borrowers don't default. There's the rub.

LenderLive Network is expanding its correspondent lending channel by offering to buy jumbo mortgages from members of the Independent Community Bankers of America.

A new trade group is making an effort to educate veterans about the lesser-known, low-downpayment, government-backed loan program, while the Department of Veterans Affairs works to clarify rules and recruit appraisers.

Some regional and large community banks are retaining more mortgages for investment because better-than-average deposit growth has given them extra cash they need to deploy. However, they are selective about which mortgages they keep.

Mortgage application volume increased a week after Memorial Day behind a surge in both refinance and purchase mortgage activity.

The Massachusetts attorney general's lawsuit against Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac seeks to aid a nonprofit whose CEO has close political ties to Martha Coakley's gubernatorial campaign.

Lenders are relaxing overlays and adjusting pricing to attract more VA business.

Though the bulk of the ambitious Housing New York plan is intended to build or rehabilitate rentals, there are several homeownership components as well.

The House approved a bill Monday evening to modify the calculation of certain "points and fees" under the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s qualified mortgage rule.

By obtaining a third-party opinion that provides a reasoned analysis supporting borrowers' ability to repay, a lender places itself in a substantially stronger position with respect to subsequent ATR claims.

Citigroup, one of three mortgage lenders sued last year by Los Angeles for allegedly targeting minorities with "predatory" loans, lost its first attempt to dismiss the claims.

The housing market is unseasonably weak due to consumers' worries about an economic slowdown and a decline in overall household income, according to a Fannie Mae survey.

Lenders are seeking fixes to a proposal by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that would allow institutions to repay points and fees that inadvertently exceeded the "qualified mortgage" rule.

The reduction in mortgage demand has some credit unions reaching down to slightly lower credit scores.

The Legg Mason unit plans to buy mortgages made to self-employed borrowers who may not have the documentation for qualified mortgages as well as interest-only loan.

Economic growth will rebound in the second quarter, averaging 3.1% over the next six quarters, but the housing market may not be as strong due to constraints on lending, according to bank economists.

Small lenders have slashed their payrolls by 9,000 workers this year.

The regulator wants to ensure the government-sponsored enterprises set guarantee fees at a level that turns a profit after covering the cost of capital, administrative expenses and expected credit losses.

New York's banking regulator said Thursday that he intends to simplify state requirements for obtaining a mortgage banking license.