Mortgages

Regulators have pressed banks to watch out for rising concentrations of commercial real estate loans. Some banks have paid heed, but others are skyrocketing past recommended thresholds.

The agency released a plan last week that would stipulate that newly constructed homes financed by the Federal Housing Administration would have to be elevated two feet above the 100-year-based flood level.

Mortgage rates increased 7 basis points to their highest level since late June, the largest one-week gain in more than six months, according to Freddie Mac.

The regulator's settlement with Nomura is tied to the failures of two corporate credit unions, though Nomura did not admit fault as part of its settlement.

Opus Bank in Irvine, Calif., which reported a third-quarter loss tied to credit issues, has elevated two lending officers to executive-level posts.

If Democrats succeed in winning control of the Senate after next week's election, the gavel of the Senate Banking Committee is likely to fall to Sen. Sherrod Brown, a progressive from Ohio who has called on the biggest banks to hold significantly more capital.

A new refinance mortgage offered by SoFi and Fannie Mae lets consumers tap into their home equity to pay down student loan debt at terms more favorable than a traditional cash-out refi.

Citigroup is marketing its latest commercial mortgage securitization heavily centered on the more volatile CMBS mix of hotel and office properties.

Mortgage application activity decreased 1.2% from one week earlier, its lowest level since May, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

NMI Holdings reported record net income of $6.2 million for the third quarter, as its insurance-in-force grew 19% during the period.

Nationstar Mortgage Holdings reported third-quarter net income of $45 million, driven by the large percentage of servicing customers its origination business recaptured.

Freddie Mac's credit risk transfers come with a hefty price tag, but are ultimately still worth it, according to Chief Executive Don Layton.

Can some of the top names in mortgage lending outdo online lending startups in head-to-head competition? We're about to find out. Wells Fargo, Quicken Loans and SunTrust have all entered the digital lending business, putting early entrants on the defensive.

Cathay General Bancorp in Los Angeles has agreed to a community reinvestment plan tied to its deal to buy SinoPac Bancorp from Bank SinoPac in Taiwan.

Pennsylvania Treasurer Timothy Reese launched a $100 million initiative that he said would provide a competitive rate of return while supporting affordable housing.

HomeBridge Financial Services has agreed to purchase the operating assets of Prospect Mortgage, in a deal that will grow its retail branch operation by approximately 150%.

Diamond Resorts is preparing its first offering of bonds backed by timeshare loans in nearly a year, according to Kroll Bond Rating Agency.

Freddie Mac's net income rose to $2.3 billion in the third quarter, a big turnaround from the same point last year, when it lost $475 million due to derivative hedging instruments.

Courting borrowers with past bankruptcies might not cross most loan officers' minds as the best strategy for building business, but Guaranteed Rate's Danielle Young doesn't let borrowers' past blemishes intimidate her.

Commercial mortgage originations increased 5% in the third quarter compared with the same period last year, driven by a huge increase in government-sponsored enterprise volume.