Mortgage lenders appear divided on whether a joint venture with home builders at this time would be profitable or just a shot in the dark. With home building and purchase-mortgage lending clearly in a slump, joint ventures are probably more important now than ever because the mortgage process has become more complicated and difficult for the consumer, according to a homebuilding industry executive. Bank of America, however, may be cold on joint ventures right now. Saddled with the misfortunes of Countrywide, BofA strategically ended a joint venture recently with ...