Mortgages

Mortgage application activity decreased 4% from one week earlier as home purchase volume fell to its lowest point in six months, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

United Bankshares is in talks to acquire Cardinal Financial Corp., according to people familiar with the matter, as regional banks seek to pair up to counter low interest rates and mounting regulatory costs.

LM Funding swung to a net loss from last year amidst ballooning expenses and lower interest income from delinquent association fees.

Arch U.S. MI's acquisition of United Guaranty Corp. will make one of the smallest private mortgage insurers the sector's new market leader. While the move is likely to ease pricing competition among the six remaining players, it's not expected to set off a wave of further consolidation.

Existing home sales and median home prices dipped in July, reflecting the impact of declining affordability, according to the California Association of Realtors.

Enforcement actions by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau against companies are well-known, but compliance starts with individuals.

Appraisal management company Accurate Group is looking to expand its nationwide appraiser network.

Servicers got what they asked for when the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau limited the specificity of certain requirements in its final servicing rule. Now they may regret it.

Fannie Mae is prepping servicers to handle the issues homeowners may face in the wake of severe flooding across Louisiana.

Home construction unexpectedly accelerated in July to the fastest pace in five months, indicating the housing industry remains an area of support for the economy.

American International Group. agreed to sell mortgage insurer United Guaranty Corp. to Arch Capital Group as Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock works to simplify his company and free up capital to return to shareholders.

American International Group Inc. is in talks to sell its mortgage insurer, United Guaranty Corp., to Arch Capital Group Ltd. as Chief Executive Officer Peter Hancock works to simplify his company and free up capital to return to shareholders, according to a person familiar with the matter.

Sterling Bancorp of Montebello, N.Y., has sold its mortgage business to Freedom Mortgage of Mount Laurel, N.J., for an undisclosed price.

JPMorgan is taking a riskier route for its second jumbo mortgage loan securitization of 2016.

Title insurer operating revenue will end 2016 flat to slightly down as a modest increase in interest rates should dampen purchase and refinance transactions, a report from Fitch Ratings said.

The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has downgraded the Community Reinvestment Act rating for BancorpSouth in Tupelo, Miss.

Mortgage portfolio retention strategies typically focus on proactively approaching borrowers who can benefit from refinancing. But companies are increasingly using enhanced analytics to further segment their customer base and identify borrowers on the cusp of buying a new home.

Confidence among homebuilders climbed in August as steady job growth and low interest rates boosted prospects for the residential real estate market in the second half of the year, according to data from the National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo.

United Community and Wells Fargo are among the banks building platforms to lend to senior-care facilities. Demographics suggest the business should grow significantly in coming years.

Mayor Bill de Blasio on Thursday nominated Eric Enderlin to be president of the New York City Housing Development Corp., the city's housing finance arm and a major player in de Blasio's affordable housing initiative.