Originations

Rep. Gary Miller, R-Calif., introduced legislation Wednesday to curb efforts by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to lower Federal Housing Administration loan limits.

Commercial and multifamily mortgage debt outstanding reached a record high during the fourth quarter, erasing the declines caused by the recession.

Lenders don't want to make loans outside the Qualified Mortgage rule's tight debt-to-income standard. Young graduates don't want to add to their hefty monthly payments. Net effect: Fewer first-time buyers.

Mortgage bankers welcomed the Johnson-Crapo housing finance reform proposal as a start, but cautioned they had no illusions it will on its own bring private capital back to their industry.

State regulators fined Southeast Mortgage of Georgia $22,500 following allegations that the nonbank lender was doing business with an unlicensed loan originator.

National lender hires more than 30 let go by Green Tree, one of several lenders leaving the market.

Mortgage applications fell last week as fewer consumers purchased properties and refinanced their homes.

The emotional side of financing a home is often overlooked by loan officers.

Tree.com, the parent of LendingTree, increased fourth-quarter revenue by more than half from a year earlier, a feat the company credited to strategy changes and new products.

Sens. Tim Johnson, chairman of the Senate Banking Committee, and Mike Crapo, the top Republican, received an overall warm welcome to their agreement on housing finance reform released Tuesday, after months of negotiation.

The upstart mortgage insurer says the deal will open the door to doing business with hundreds of small and midsize lenders that regularly sell loans to the two aggregators.

FBC Mortgage, a unit of the investment bank Sterne Agee Group, is seeking loan referral partnerships with community banks. In a recent deal it also hired HomeBanc's mortgage personnel.

Sens. Tim Johnson, chairman of the Banking Committee, and Mike Crapo, the top Republican, laid out a preliminary bipartisan agreement on housing finance reform after months of deliberation.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could return $179 billion in profits to taxpayers over the next 10 years if they continue operating under federal conservatorship, according to White House budget analysts.

Keith Pedigo, who led efforts to modernize the Department of Veterans Affairs home loan guarantee program, has joined The Collingwood Group, founded by a former FHA commissioner.

The bank likely was worried about dealing with sellers who did not have the net worth to buy back loans.

USMI, successor to the Mortgage Insurance Cos. of America, says its top priority is to make sure whatever system replaces Fannie and Freddie uses at least as much private coverage.

Fannie Mae researchers attribute the sharp turn in perceptions to winter blues.

Over the last year several decisions and regulatory actions suggest industry standards are soon going to become the way of life for lenders.

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