Most top lenders reported substantial increases in first-lien originations during the second quarter. But the rebound in production doesn't appear to have lifted mortgage banking income much. (Includes two data charts.)
For years, banks have been dominant players in the non-agency jumbo space. One strategy: Originate a loan, place it in portfolio and earn a spread. But thanks to rising rates and increased regulatory scrutiny, the economics aren’t as attractive.
It’s all how you look at it. Right? The early results show a turnaround in bank mortgage lending on a sequential basis for the second quarter but ugly drops compared to a year ago. The problem: 7% mortgages.
Home prices were expected to come down this year due to affordability issues stemming from high interest rates. Instead, home prices look fairly firm thanks to housing supply/demand dynamics.
If ever there was a Horatio Alger story for the mortgage industry it’s Angelo Mozilo, the co-founder of Countrywide Financial. The recently deceased Mozilo proved that nonbanks could compete with the megabanks. Then the subprime crisis happened.