Publicly held banks reported a 20% decline in mortgage banking income from the second to the third quarter as more firms shift away from the originate-to-sell model. Servicing generally helped offset faltering profits on production and secondary marketing. (Includes data chart.) Read More

Broker-reliant United Wholesale Mortgage edged out Rocket, which prefers the retail channel, for the top spot in agency loan sales amid plummeting volume and deteriorating credit quality. (Includes data chart.) Read More

Mortgage servicing right markups have allowed several companies to report net profits this year when, absent these non-cash entries, they’d be in the red. But advisors suggest some MSR holders might be pushing the envelope on their valuations. Read More

First-time homebuyers are once again finding success in the housing market, according to a Zillow report. Read More

In the weeks between the election and the start of the new Congress in January, federal lawmakers will face a legislative crush. Housing issues will have to compete for their attention. Read More

Lenders’ digitization efforts have helped improve consumer experience and reduce cycle time over the past two years, but have not been effective in bringing down costs, according to Fannie Mae. Read More

Separate appraisals of the same homes showed disparities in customer service, valuation and the distance of comparator properties depending on the race of the homeowner present during the assessment. Read More

MISMO is seeking feedback on a new application threshold decision model; mortgage industry consolidation continues apace; home price appreciation continues to ease. Read More