Industry economists expect home lending to deteriorate through the rest of 2022 as gains in purchase-mortgage lending fail to offset the meltdown in refinance activity. (Includes two data charts.) Read More

Residential mortgage lenders are trimming their workforce but at a very slow pace, which could lead to serious losses in the second half of the year, according to industry consultant David Lykken. Read More

Another blow-out earnings quarter from Freddie Mac. But earnings were juiced a bit by loan-loss reserve recaptures. Meanwhile, its net worth continues to increase. Read More

FDIC-insured banks are eager beavers when it comes to MSR acquisitions these days, dealmakers report. But have prices peaked? Not yet. Read More

Trade groups representing smaller nonbank seller/servicers say it’s the larger nondepositories, with nearly 70% of the market, that pose the biggest risk to Fannie and Freddie. Read More

Rather than encouraging lending in flood-prone areas, mandatory flood insurance requirements limit mortgage originations for borrowers with low income or low credit scores, researchers at the NY Fed found. Read More

The Biden administration’s move to reduce the impact of medical debt from consumer credit reporting will make it easier for some homebuyers to qualify for government-backed mortgages. Read More

Is the worst of the mortgage rate increases over? Hard to say. Meanwhile, publicly traded nonbanks may be forced to curtail their dividend payments to common shareholders. Read More