Mortgages

Home purchase lending hit its highest point since 2007 as low interest rates and growing consumer confidence continue to support the housing market.

The percentage of vacant bank-owned properties is larger now versus a year ago as banks are completing more foreclosures, according to Attom Data Solutions.

Mortgage industry hiring and new job appointments for the week ending Sept. 9.

A rising number of banks are looking to become community development financial institutions, emboldened by low-cost capital and an exemption from the ability-to-repay rule.

The owner of 9 West 57th St., an entity controlled by real estate developer Sheldon H. Solow, is using the loan to refinance the building, cashing out $485 million of equity in the process.

Home equity line of credit originations are in the midst of a comeback, fueled by the rise in home prices, according to a white paper released by Experian.

Mortgage credit availability decreased in August as one originator decided to stop its whole loan purchase program, according to data released Thursday by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Regardless of who wins in November, the mortgage industry will see significant changes, but Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump would take very different approaches to housing and regulatory issues, said Mortgage Bankers Association President and CEO David Stevens.

Ocwen Financial Corp. failed two compliance tests related to force-placed insurance during the fourth quarter of 2015, according to the monitor of the National Mortgage Settlement.

Mortgage rates moved slightly lower for the week, helping to spur ongoing refinance activity, according to Freddie Mac.

Homebuilder PulteGroup Inc. said its president, Ryan Marshall, will take over immediately as chief executive officer.

There are more than 300 Louisiana properties affected by floods included in commercial mortgage-backed securities, according to Morningstar Credit Ratings.

Though the Federal Housing Finance Agency has yet to provide full details about its new refinancing program to be launched next year, some analysts and industry observers are already convinced it will have only a limited impact.

A California man was sentenced to 52 months in federal prison over his role in an alleged mortgage loan modification scheme.

A slight uptick in refinances led to a similarly small increase in mortgage applications from last week, according to data released Wednesday by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Home purchase sentiment fell in August as home price expectations and other components decreased from record highs one month ago, according to Fannie Mae.

Altisource has expanded its offerings to include foreclosure auction services.

A UBS Group AG unit suffered a setback in a $2 billion lawsuit over allegedly defective mortgages after a judge said it violated contracts with three mortgage-backed securities trusts.

First American Financial Services has reached an agreement to acquire RedVision Systems, one of the largest independent providers of title and property research nationwide.

Affiliates of Goldman Sachs, Lone Star Funds and Neuberger Berman are among the winners of Fannie Mae’s latest nonperforming loans auction.