As retail and correspondent loan sales to the agencies fell by 20%, lenders became visibly less discerning about credit quality, with credit scores dropping and DTI/LTV ratios rising. (Includes two data charts.)

Private mortgage insurers gained share in the primary MI market in the first quarter of 2022, helped by purchase-mortgage activity. VA loans accounted for the majority of refis with primary MI during the period. (Includes two data charts.)

The reason: Single female borrowers are generally less affluent than single male borrowers, have lower incomes and take out smaller loans, according to researchers at the Urban Institute.

Soaring home values boosted the national average equity stake in a mortgaged residential home to $185,000 at the end of 2021. The year-over-year gain: $48,000.

There is some evidence that production was less efficient in the third quarter, but profitability was up anyway. Servicing income was clearly stronger. (Includes data chart.)

An appraisal company failed to note that improvements to a refinanced property happened to encroach on neighboring land, but the lender, First Community Mortgage, couldn’t pin losses on the appraiser.

With interest rates on the rise, refinance volume is expected to drop in 2022. Purchase-mortgage lending could hit a record level, but it won’t fully offset the loss in refis, putting pressure on margins.

UWM accepted six mortgage payments with cryptocurrency before ending the pilot program; closing costs increased in the first half of 2021; Fannie strengthened underwriting standards for condos and co-ops.

Sales to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac saw larger concentrations of higher-risk mortgages, in both the purchase and refinance sectors. But high-FICO loans continue to account for most GSE business. (Includes two data charts.)

To help produce the record volume of mortgages originated in 2020, lenders embraced technology. Changes that could have taken five years to implement were completed in 18 months.