Underwriting

Mortgage rates decreased for the third straight week and reached their lowest level since mid-April, according to Freddie Mac.

July's year-over-year increase in foreclosure starts for 44% of the nation's metro areas is a result of looser underwriting standards and a sign of future growth in defaults, said Attom Data Solutions.

New investor appetite for mortgages over $1 million is motivating more nonbank lenders to offer super jumbo loans, often with weaker credit terms than traditional banks.

Average mortgage rates fell, including the largest week-over-week drop of the past 12 months, but homebuyer demand stays mum, according to Freddie Mac.

The percentage of low down payment loans using private mortgage insurance continues to grow, and should continue as more first-time homebuyers get conforming loans, according to Keefe Bruyette & Woods.

A mortgage fraud scheme involving fake employment records, initially thought to be contained to Southern California, is occurring statewide, Fannie Mae said in a new fraud alert.

Mortgage rates took a small step back due to affordability pressure after climbing for the past two weeks, according to Freddie Mac.

Mortgage credit accessibility kept climbing in July, mostly thanks to an expansion of jumbo loan products offered, pushing that index to its historical high point, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Wells Fargo estimates that in 400 instances, borrowers later went through foreclosure who were improperly denied or not offered a mortgage modification.

Revisions to the TILA/RESPA integrated disclosure that go into effect this fall drove the changes Ellie Mae made in its latest update to the Encompass loan origination system.