Mortgages

Mortgage REIT wants more control over servicing so it can transfer delinquent loans to special servicers.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Fannie Mae may actually be helping banks and mortgage lenders boost their bottom lines through better oversight of their third-party vendors.

New York regulator Benjamin Lawsky has begun investigating possible predatory lending practices at companies that originate short-term, high-interest loans secured by a borrower's home.

Rialto Capital is in the market with $147 million of bonds backed by nonperforming commercial and residential mortgages, according to a presale report published by Kroll Bond Rating Agency.

The Federal Housing Administration raised mortgage insurance fees during the financial crisis in order to cover a wave of defaults. Now that the housing market has steadied, the agency should adjust its policies.

An identity theft victim provides some tips for everyone -- consumers, mortgage originators and referral sources -- on how to protect themselves.

Legacy mortgage insurers welcome the level playing field that will come with a recent capital retention proposal, even though the new requirements will have a greater impact on firms that have larger volumes of insurance on high-risk loans.

CertusBank in Greenville, S.C., has agreed to sell its mortgage and wealth businesses as it tries to move past its history of high expenses and heavy losses.

National Mortgage Insurance Corp. in Emeryville, Calif., has launched a mobile application and new website designed specifically for credit unions.

Principal Real Estate Investors and Macquarie Group have jointly launched Principal Commercial Capital, a national lending platform that will both originate and securitize commercial mortgage loans.

Despite regulatory constraints on servicing transfers that affect large players, increased compliance costs and capital ratio requirements are a bigger burden for smaller servicers to bear.

MainStreet, a mortgage investment company in New York, has launched a crowdfunding site for lending and investing in commercial real estate.

Though the refinance boom is over and several mortgage giants are reeling as originations decline, some credit unions are thriving as they tap into a new source — first-time homebuyers.

Another important concern when it comes to the safety of borrowers' home loan information is physical location. There have been many physical loan files stolen, as well as computers.

The new owners of Ditech Mortgage, the consumer direct lender that ruled the subprime-era airwaves with its "Lost another loan to Ditech!" ads, will revive another of its precrisis marketing efforts by sponsoring the NASCAR driver.

Residential mortgage originator PrimeLending has entered into a new business relationship with LifeLock, a provider of identity theft protection services.

A plea for the Federal Housing Administration official to finish clarifying the rights of spouses unnamed on Home Equity Conversion Mortgages before she leaves office.

Ginnie Mae President Ted Tozer is urging credit unions and community banks to contact their Federal Home Loan Bank so they can participate in a conduit program for government-backed loans.

Nope, it's not more money, at least not directly. The key to hiring a good loan officer, or retaining one, is said to be showing that your mortgage shop can close loans on time, act professionally and protect employees' reputations in the market.

Ellington Financial in Old Greenwich, Conn., has made a minority investment in retail reverse mortgage loan originator Longbridge Financial.