Underwriting

Stewart Information Services in Houston plans to eliminate its dual classes of common stock.

A drop in interest rates due to global economic worries fueled an increase in mortgage applications last week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

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

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.

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.

Redwood Trust in Mill Valley, Calif., plans to stop buying mortgage loans to resell to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as it looks to cut costs.

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

It took an average of 49 days to close a residential mortgage loan in December, a week longer than it took one year prior, according to Ellie Mae. This was unchanged from November.

Default rates on various types of consumer loans were down 14 basis points in December on a year-over-year basis but were unchanged from November, according to Standard & Poor's and Experian.

Mortgage applications leapt 9% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ending Jan. 15 compared to one week earlier, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Bank of America's mortgage banking income was down 26% from a year ago due to a decrease in core loan production revenue and higher intercompany charges during the fourth quarter.

Interstate Hotels & Resorts in Arlington, Va., has formed a partnership with Hospitality Funding to provide financing for hotel development projects.

Life insurance companies posted a higher return on their private commercial mortgage investments in the third quarter of 2015, compared to the second quarter, according to LifeComps.

The reverse mortgage industry is optimistic after recent reforms to the Home Equity Conversion Mortgage by the FHA and newfound respect from financial planners.

JPMorgan Chase reported a 21% drop in year-over-year earnings for its mortgage business as revenue dropped 10%.

William P. Foley II, who had been the executive chairman of the nation's largest title insurance underwriter, Fidelity National Financial, has stepped down from the role as of Jan. 8.

Some lenders have asked whether the bureau would adjust its so-called resubmission guidelines — which determine whether lenders have to refile data based on errors found in samples — and it has responded with a request for further industry input.

Freddie Mac has formed a partnership with the Lenders One Mortgage co-operative to give its members benefits on pricing and in other areas.

CoreLogic has purchased the remaining 49.9% ownership in RELS LLC, becoming the real estate asset valuation and appraisal services provider's sole owner.

As the purchase market heats up, banks are looking to utilize digital tools meant to make the daunting homebuying experience easier.