Originations

Mortgage brokers have the strongest ties with referral sources like real estate agents. But they lack the control over closing, funding and underwriting that's critical in a home purchase transaction.

Hovnanian Enterprises reported a wider loss for its fiscal first quarter as inclement weather extended construction times and sales demand slowed.

While the budget was once again focused on other issues than financial services, it provided an update on the White House's priorities as well as a prediction that the FHA's fortunes will soon improve.

What does it mean to be a borrower returning to the market from job loss, credit challenges, foreclosure and/or bankruptcy.

President Obama's fiscal-year 2015 budget projects the Federal Housing Administration won't require a taxpayer subsidy this year as the agency's efforts to shore up its finances have offset losses from defaulted loans.

There are five reasons why mortgage originators should be welcoming this change.

The acquisition is the latest in a series of diversification steps by Carrington which started as an investor in mortgage-backed securities and over the years branched into servicing and originating loans.

The transaction boosts InterLinc's origination operations in Alabama.

The GSEs reported big profits for 2013 but even the companies' executives question the sustainability of those earnings.

Wipro Gallagher Solutions announced its NetOxygen loan origination system has added an integration with mortgage technology developer Optimal Blue's product and pricing engine.

A technical reading of the rule supports excluding charges by a broker's title affiliate from the 3% fee cap. But without a specific interpretation from the CFPB, it would be unwise to risk a loan's QM status.

Brian Scott Cohen of Wells Fargo's Brooklyn, N.Y. office is now the provisional leader in Origination News' 2013 Top 200 loan officer survey.

Prospect Mortgage's victory in a court case brought by a loan officer who sued for minimum wage and overtime has been the talk of the industry. Following are comments posted by readers on NationalMortgageNews.com showing the wide range of interpretations of the case.Many loan officers view themselves as independent contractors. Others think W-2 tax classifications by employers are at odds with that view.

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors named Robert Niemi the new ombudsman of the National Mortgage Licensing System and Registry.

Many conversations in the loan process start with this often uttered, never welcome phrase: "I am going to need an explanation…" If you were on the receiving end of that message, how would that make you feel?

Contracts to purchase previously owned homes rose less than forecast in January, adding to signs housing was weakening in early 2014.

Government mortgage programs for this country's more than six million Native people are accelerating home loan credit access to this underserved group of people. But seemingly intractable housing problems endure.

First Horizon National has reached an agreement with Freddie Mac related to home loans originated and sold to the government-sponsored entity between 2000 and 2008.

Also, loan officer compensation trial victory for Prospect Mortgage and employment contract news.

Business contingency plans kept originators and vendors humming along at almost normal during the January and February blizzards.