Mortgages

Servicers are performing origination functions, often using laid-off originators to do the work.

A cap on points and fees in new qualified mortgage rules could put brokers and affiliate relationships in jeopardy.

Systems for new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules must be in a production-ready state several months before their “go-live” date early next year.

A big gain in servicing fees propelled Ocwen Financial in the fourth quarter.

Carlyle Group has spent about $2.5 billion betting on the U.S. housing recovery since late 2008.

The members of the Mortgage Insurance Cos. of America wrote $10.5 billion in primary new insurance in January, down approximately 2% from $10.7 billion in December, but more than double the almost $5 billion written in January 2012.

Data show the distressed asset inventory is dwindling down simultaneously, opening the way to a sustainable housing recovery and gradually closing what appears to be a window of opportunity in short sales.

Freddie Mac posted earnings of $4.5 billion in the fourth quarter, up from $2.9 billion the prior quarter, and completed its first profitable year since 2007.

The explosion in the number of REOs became a great way for investors and consumers to purchase properties for a steal.

Sen. Robert Menendez has proposed a Home Equity Conversion Mortgage reform bill in response to the Federal Housing Administration’s efforts to get a better handle over its reverse mortgage program.

Reporting a $387 million fourth-quarter loss did not deter investors from flocking to the mortgage insurer's stock.

CommonWealth REIT has priced its controversial 30 million share public offering at $19 per share. Meanwhile, a second lawsuit has been filed by another investor seeking to stop the sale.

It would appear that a real estate salesperson selling a home to a buyer that refers the buyer to a particular loan originator or creditor (lender) or a loan originator that works for the lender and expects compensation becomes a loan originator.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have agreed to honor New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s request for new rules to accelerate the release of insurance proceeds to homeowners affected by Hurricane Sandy.

Discontinued operations lead to Impac having a net loss of $3.4 million for 2012, compared with net earnings of $3.2 million in 2011.

A poster on the Mortgage Grapevine is asking loan officers about the challenges they are experiencing when working with real estate investors.

Regulators reached the settlement last month for foreclosure faults after a U.S. housing-market collapse contributed to the worst financial crisis since the Great Depression.

Sending cuts scheduled to kick in Friday will constrain the availability of Federal Housing Administration mortgages that account for about a quarter of originations, threatening its role in the year-long housing recovery.

We’re hearing that sometimes one hand at a lender does know what the other hand is doing.

Radian Group’s equity and debt offerings this week raised nearly $690 million in net proceeds, a good sign for the industry.