Underwriting

GameStop's plan to shutter up to 200 stores could adversely affect commercial mortgage-backed securities loans with a combined allocated property balance of almost $42 million, according to Morningstar Credit Ratings.

Mortgage lenders prefer to invest in improvements to their consumer-facing technology because it offers a better return than similar spending on back-end processes, according to Fannie Mae.

The end of the qualified mortgage patch should further accelerate non-QM origination growth, but is the mortgage industry ready?

September's increase in mortgage credit availability was driven by the expansion of jumbo products to record levels, which overcame a retrenchment in both conforming and government programs, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.

Fannie Mae is cracking down on homebuyer education requirements, particularly for first-time homebuyers and purchasers utilizing high loan-to-value mortgages.

The commercial mortgage-backed securities sector will weather the fourth quarter's slowing but steady growth in the U.S. economy, as better loan performance counters a continued decline in volume, Morningstar said.

Freddie Mac is increasing the number of companies offering merged reports from the credit bureaus through integrations with its Loan Product Advisor automated underwriting system.

Freddie Mac's efforts to improve underwriting could include the use of a technology firm's artificial intelligence-driven consumer-risk modeling software that can expand access to credit, according to the Wall Street Journal.

The recent run of lower interest rates may bode well for today's commercial mortgage-backed securities, unless it's undermined by an increase in leverage, according to Fitch Ratings.

The number of mortgage holders with refinancing potential dropped by 1.5 million as the average long-term rate for home loans continued to rise, according to Black Knight.