Endorsement activity involving traditional HECMs declined slightly and production of HECMs for home purchase increased during the third quarter. Mutual of Omaha remained the top HECM lender. (Includes three data tables.)

Among a large group of FHA/VA lenders, the broker channel accounted for 24.8% of government-insured originations in the third quarter. UWM and PennyMac sharply increased their broker volume in the quarter. (Includes data table.)

Lenders originated $112.67 billion of FHA and VA loans in the third quarter — the highest quarterly volume for the government loan programs since the second quarter of 2022. (Includes three data tables.)

FHA and Ginnie Mae officials are working to ensure HECMs are available by implementing various reforms.

The correspondent channel’s share of government-insured lending increased in the second quarter, but it was still down on a year-to-date basis from the first half of 2023. (Includes data table.)

Better Mortgage launched the product as part of an effort by the lender to expand its government-insured mortgage originations.

Combined endorsements for FHA and VA forward loans increased by 17.8% from the first quarter to the second. (Includes three data tables.)

Retail lenders and brokers boosted their respective market shares in government-insured mortgage production during the first quarter of the year though correspondents still were the dominant channel. (Includes data table.)

Age and mobility account for 73% of the homeownership gap between active-duty servicemembers and the nonmilitary population, according to a recent report from the Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center.

Production of FHA reverse mortgages declined 11.4% from the fourth quarter to the first. Industry watchers are calling for reforms to increase program uptake. (Includes three data tables.)