Real estate agents are more likely to recommend lenders that provide reliable preapprovals to potential homebuyers, according to a survey conducted by Campbell Surveys and sponsored by Inside Mortgage Finance. Positive interactions with real estate agents could help lenders boost business as the market has shifted toward purchase mortgages from refinances. “Real estate agents frequently recommend mortgage providers, and homebuyers frequently accept these recommendations,” said Tom Popik, research director of Campbell Surveys. The new survey of more than 2,000 real estate agents found...
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray has repeatedly told mortgage lenders that there are plenty of good loans to be made outside the confines of the qualified mortgage. Increasingly, it looks like market dynamics are backing him up. During a webinar last week hosted by Inside Mortgage Finance, Larry Platt, a partner with the K&L Gates law firm, noted that some lenders are looking outside the QM box to bolster loan origination volume that has plummeted. “The volume is down, and we’ve moved into a purchase-money market,” he observed. Also, there’s...
Richard Smith, chief marketing officer for Ditech, said the mortgages that the company originates will close in Ditech’s name, not in the name of Green Tree.
In case you didn’t notice, the price of Fannie and Freddie common rose about 5 percent Tuesday, after Watt spoke. In trading Wednesday, they were up again...
“This decision is motivated by concerns about how such a reduction could adversely impact the health of the current housing finance market,” said FHFA Director Mel Watt.
In his comments to reporters, FHFA Director Mel Watt did not rule out Fannie and Freddie engaging in principal reductions to help troubled consumers who have GSE loans.