Offshoring certain functions involved with originations or servicing can generate cost savings of 25% and beyond. Still, there are risks involved with the practice.

Only two of 21 banks reported increased income from mortgage banking during the second quarter, both due to improvement on the servicing side of the business. (Includes data chart.)

Income fell at four nonbanks in the second quarter, though performance was far from uniform. loanDepot’s profits dropped 94% compared with the previous quarter.

Investors in Fannie/Freddie common (and preferreds) were licking their wounds this week after the Supreme Court essentially ruled against them. Moral of the story: Stock speculation is not for the weak of heart.

Most of the big banks -- even Bank of America -- reported hefty gains in mortgage banking income during the first quarter that appear largely driven by net servicing fees. (Includes data chart.)

Officials at Doma, which is set to go public via a special purpose acquisition company maneuver, said the company might not be profitable until 2023.

Most publicly traded nonbanks saw declines in origination gain-on-sale margins in the first quarter as the market evolved toward normalcy. Several companies offset declining production income with better performance on servicing. (Includes data chart.)

Sterling Bancorp recently reached a $12.5 million settlement for allegedly violating the Securities Act. The company is now ready to turn the page on its non-agency past.

It would appear mortgage job security is at an all-time high these days. Credit the pandemic and lower interest rates.

A group of 21 banks reported a combined $3.75 billion in mortgage banking income for the first quarter of 2021. While that was a modest 1.7% gain from the fourth quarter, it represented a huge 63.3% gain from the first three months of last year. (Includes data chart.)