Underwriting

A change to the way Zillow charges for mortgage rate advertising is poised to shake up the world of online lead generation — an increasingly important source of new business, but one where lenders face a constant struggle between quality versus quantity.

The Supreme Court's recent ruling that the disparate impact theory of liability can be applied to the Fair Housing Act means mortgage lenders must be even more vigilant in their ongoing testing and evaluation of business practices that could be interpreted as even unintentional discrimination.

A survey of mortgage lending executives conducted by mortgage insurance company Genworth found that most executives believe that a disconnect exists between lenders and borrowers on who qualifies for a mortgage.

The latest estimates of nonbank mortgage lender employment mark the largest number of workers since November 2013, and the biggest monthly hiring gain in six months.

Stonegate Mortgage will expand its consumer-direct operations in Scottsdale, Ariz., with plans to add about 50 employees.

The narrowing gap between what large and small lenders pay in guarantee fees to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has helped the industry's smallest originators grow their share of mortgages sold to the government-sponsored enterprises.

After it all but stopped making real estate and development loans following the housing crash, Farmers & Merchants Bank has increased its real estate loans by more than 61% over the last two years. It's a figure that’s likely to keep rising as California's real estate market heats up and the $5.6 billion-asset bank continues to add commercial real estate, construction and mortgage lending specialists to keep pace.

Mortgage applications fell 4.7% from a week earlier on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's weekly survey.

The Federal Housing Administration's new loan defect "taxonomy" may give lenders better clarity on the quality assurance reviews of FHA loans, but it is not a shield from possible enforcement action by the Department of Justice and other regulators.

First and second mortgage originations have increased substantially in the first quarter of this year, according to a new report from credit reporting company Equifax.

Mortgage originators willing to help consumers overcome traditional financing hurdles can add more emerging segments of home buyers as clients.

Home prices rose 1% from March and 4.9% year-over-year in April, according to Black Knight Financial Services.

Home equity line of credit delinquencies and net charge-offs have not increased as expected, largely due to the beneficial impact of improving home prices and steadier economic conditions, according to a report from Fitch Ratings.

Westcor Land Title Insurance in Maitland, Fla., has opened its first New York office as it looks to expand in the market for commercial underwriting.

The New York City borough of Manhattan is the least affordable place for consumers making a low down payment to buy a home, according to a new report by housing and property data firm RealtyTrac of Irvine, Calif.

Mortgage rates barely budged from a week ago, even though reports have shown that the housing market is on the rebound with interest rates expected to rise.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new mortgage integrated disclosure rules will now take effect Saturday, Oct. 3, two days later than the previously rescheduled Oct. 1 deadline.

Bankers and commercial real estate developers are protesting new restrictions on construction lending, arguing they are poised to hurt credit availability and drive loans into risky, unregulated sectors.

Fannie Mae will no longer charge mortgage lenders to submit loans to its Desktop Underwriter automated underwriting system, a decision that follows a similar move by Freddie Mac earlier this month.

Fewer consumers today believe it's difficult to get a mortgage than a year ago. However, the majority of survey respondents still think the origination process is too tough and that there are too few homes on the market.