The Mortgage Bankers Association continues to trim its production forecast for 2014 as the year progresses. Still, some lenders are hopeful and most of them are nonbanks.

Apparently, CitiMortgage wants to grow its presence in the origination market, including the correspondent channel where it has a slight pulse.

Donovan is leaving HUD at a time when housing and mortgage industry advocates are pushing for reductions in FHA premiums.

Meanwhile, industry sources said Select Portfolio Servicing is working on a large MSR acquisition, which could transfer shortly.

The jumbo MBS market has been extremely weak this year, but a change may be afoot.

So, what’s the biggest impediment to mortgage volumes taking off this spring? According to a new poll from Inside Mortgage Finance, it’s a lack of housing inventory.

“FHFA hasn’t dropped the ball on the issue,” said one MI consultant who has met with the agency over the topic. “They now know that the [GSE reform bill] is dead and they want to make sure they get it right.”

Sources contend that three other top executives also have left Nationstar Mortgage. At press time, Nationstar’s media department had not returned telephone calls and emails on the matter.

Five Oaks will allow for cash-out refis for loans with balances of up to $1 million. The maximum allowable loan-to-value ratio is 65 percent, but the company may eventually go to 70 percent.

In trading, Walter was down almost 5 percent on the day. The stock fell to just under $28. Its 52-week low is $24, its high $45.12.