The continuing decline in mortgage broker production and the growing success of wholesale correspondent originations led to a slowdown in “direct” mortgage originations in 2010, according to a new Inside Mortgage Finance analysis. Direct mortgage originations include...[Includes one data chart]

The leading financial institutions that provide mortgage loans eligible to be sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continued to gradually tighten their underwriting and incrementally increase the quality of their business in the fourth quarter of 2010, according to the latest data from the Inside Mortgage Finance MBS Database. As refinance mortgages became...[Includes one data chart]

Jumbo mortgage production held up better than overall mortgage originations in 2010, and the non-agency sector for the first time in two years edged past agency-funded jumbo lending. Total jumbo mortgage originations – production of new home loans exceeding $417,000 – rose...[Includes two data charts]

The Mortgage Bankers Association this week announced that FHA Commissioner David Stevens will take over as the next president and CEO of the trade association, concluding a two-year stint at the government agency. Stevens will take over... [Includes one data chart]

The amount of home mortgage debt outstanding declined for the 11th consecutive quarter during the final three months of 2010, sinking to its lowest level since the end of 2006. The Federal Reserve last week reported there was $10.55 trillion of single-family mortgage debt outstanding at the end of 2010, down 0.6 percent from the third quarter. Since peaking...[Includes two data charts]

Similar lawsuits seeking to stop the implementation and enforcement of the Federal Reserve’s final rule prohibiting certain payments to mortgage loan originators (MLO) have been filed in federal district court in Washington, DC. In recent filings, the National Association of Mortgage Brokers and the National Association of Independent Housing Professionals sought...

Discussion over the size of civil fines to be imposed on mortgage servicers continues in the wake of a draft term sheet of the settlement agreement proposed by state attorneys general that was floated last week. A spokesman for Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller said...

Having different compensation formulas with different wholesale lenders could expose an honest mortgage broker to charges of illegal steering under the Federal Reserve’s loan originator compensation rule taking effect April 1. The California Association of Mortgage Professionals warned...

The Department of Housing and Urban Develoment defended itself against criticism by its own internal watchdog by underscoring steps it has taken to strengthen its ability to target and review high-risk, federally insured mortgage loans. Responding to a recent negative evaluation by its Office of the Inspector General, HUD said...

A coalition of mortgage lenders and homebuilders has asked the Federal Reserve Board to make compliance with two interim rules implementing the Mortgage Disclosure Improvement Act optional. The rules are intended to clarify previously issued regulations requiring mortgage lenders to disclose...