Mortgages

Shrinking origination volumes and margins have reduced lenders’ training efforts, but they are willing to invest in programs and systems that ensure compliance or payoff.

Even though home price appreciation was up 5.2% on a yearly basis, it still is a much slower pace than the 7% figure that was seen over the summer.

Refinancings comprise less than 60% of loan volume in October.

The rate of home price growth increased rapidly early in 2013, and after a brief summer pause, home prices have again picked up as we near the end of the year.

The individual performance of mortgage-related companies in this publication’s equity index ranged from a gain of about 5% to a loss of about 1% in value on the day.

Mel Watt, set to become director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, is making both agency and non-agency MBS investors nervous.

Low inventories continue to support rising home values.

Following new legislation issued by the CFPB earlier in November, the mortgage industry’s voluntary standards organization has extended the comment period beyond yearend 2013.

Mortgage loans originated this year are favorable towards borrowers, but there may be a shift in risk and eligibility as the market moves into a purchase and first time homebuyer market.

The CFPB's "Know Before You Owe" rule combining TILA and RESPA disclosures "is one of the largest and most impactful regulatory changes credit unions have probably ever seen,” one analyst says.

Colonial Savings installed new mortgage software and consequently tripled loan volume, cut costs and improved compliance without reducing headcount.

Loan buybacks fall to the lowest level in 5 years with $1.8 billion in the third quarter.

More builders are getting new single-family construction permits amid home sales declines, which one insider sees as a natural market adjustment that will not inhibit the housing market recovery.

Management can discuss a new rule as a compliance threat, but originators needs to learn about compliance requirements in such a way that they can sell without fear.

It is not just a way for them to fill their pipelines during a slowdown in originations, they claim.

The GSE regulator shies away from making changes with Congress poised to confirm a new Fannie, Freddie overseer.

The Department of Veterans Affairs guaranteed 629,300 single-family loans in FY 2013, while the Federal Housing Administration experienced a decline in purchase mortgage loans.

The combination of rapidly rising home prices along with strong demand from institutional investors and other cash buyers means short sales are becoming less favorable for lenders.

New approach provides better assurances that insurers will pay claims on seasoned loans.

Contrary to historic trends, third-party mortgage loans originated after the crisis years are performing almost as well as retail originated loans.