Interest rates are firming up and servicing sales are proliferating. Some dealmakers believe the second and third quarters will be barn-burners in terms of transactions.
In a bid to diversify its product offerings, New York Community Bank is merging with the mortgage-centric Flagstar. Three other depositories are engaged in M&A deals as well.
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.)
With refi business expected to decline later this year, a number of shops are rethinking their hiring plans. Lenders are set to face margin compression, excess capacity and consolidation.
Subservicing has been a growth business the past several years but now some mortgage bankers, flush with cash from the refi boom, are bringing the task inhouse.