Technology

The number of homeowners who received loan modifications rose to roughly 44,000 in January—up 2% from the previous month.

Mountain America Credit Union closed its first e-signed FHA mortgages, among the very first paperless loans executed under a policy enacted in January.

• Paperless FHA
• Servicing Roundtable
• Lender Outsourcing
• Appraisal Regulations

The Federal Housing Administration is struggling with a high premium structure and competition from VA and GSEs.

Underwriting is back in style and underwriters are in high demand as the requirements of investors and regulatory considerations require more documentation and more scrutiny around whether a borrower can pay back the loan.

A cybersecurity firm claims many large and small mortgage lenders are being careless with customers’ personal and financial data.

Home Affordable Refinance Program loans are receding with overall refinancing, but in January they still looked to be running at about 23% of agency refis. The program ends next year.

Black Knight Financial Services is seeking a buyer for PCLender, one of its three loan origination systems, three years after acquiring it.

Mortgage rates increased as the improving job market bolstered speculation that the Federal Reserve will keep scaling back its stimulus.

Mortgage applications fell last week as fewer consumers purchased properties and refinanced their homes.