Mortgages

Mortgage rates haven't dropped enough to give many consumers a reason to refinance again, although some who missed their chance last time are getting a "second bite at the apple."

Mortgage applications climbed for the third consecutive week as a drop in interest rates spurred refinancing.

A mortgage originator gives his take on whether the gift card giveaway violates RESPA's anti-kickback provision.

Increased overhead to support back-office compliance is driving up origination expenses to the point that mortgage bankers lost nine basis points on the loan origination function during the first quarter, preliminary Mortgage Bankers Association data show.

Congressional inaction on debt forgiveness provision leads to more foreclosures.

The housing recovery is continuing, albeit at a more sustainable pace, the brokerage giant says.

New York regulator Benjamin Lawksy plans to eliminate several layers of review for mortgage bankers to apply for a license or a new branch location, and to expand an investigation into the affiliated businesses of nonbank servicers.

Citi's move may bring much-needed liquidity to a segment of the mortgage market that most of the big banks, with the exception of Wells Fargo, abandoned in the aftermath of the crisis.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman renewed calls for the state legislature to address the problem of "zombie properties," or foreclosed homes that banks have walked away from to avoid the cost of maintenance.

The Rent Stabilization Association of New York, a landlord group, and Housing Partnership, a nonprofit, have jointly launched a brokerage to connect owners of small and midsize New York apartment buildings with banks and lenders.

Last month, BMO Harris Bank changed policies on auto lending to pay a flat percentage of the loan amount to auto dealers making loans (sound familiar?).

The trade group is now predicting $1.05 trillion of volume for this year as unemployment and tepid wage growth hold back homebuying.

Regulators' recent moves to encourage mortgage lenders to relax standards have reignited a contentious debate.

The mortgage life support provided by the federal government since the crash is ebbing. It will be interesting to see if the industry can breathe on its own now.

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Genworth Financial announced Thursday that its Australian mortgage insurance business will raise about $535 million in an initial public offering.

Stephanie Dombrowski takes advantage of the reputation credit unions have as community institutions but offers customers the advantages of dealing with a larger bank or thrift that makes portfolio loans.

The company says it avoids "the micro-managing practices" other lenders impose on branch managers and loan officers.

Financial institutions that know their communities and the mortgage brokers operating in them say they have enough control over loan quality, unlike the big banks that fled the channel.

The right use of technology will allow the originator to be the first responder to an inquiry.