Second-quarter Ginnie Mae securitization growth was strongest among purchase-loan originations. But refis picked up steam over 2023. (Includes four data tables.)

FHA’s share of the government-insured market declined to 60.8% in the first quarter of 2024, while VA production improved from the fourth quarter led by IRRRLs. (Includes three data tables.)

FHA first-lien, single-family home loan applications were turned down more often than VA home loan applications, according to an analysis of HMDA data. (Includes data table.)

HUD issues guidance on mortgage advertising; UWM expands title services for brokers; Freedom issues debt; Incenter offers review services for taxes and insurance; most housing inventory in Florida, Texas.

A dip in United Wholesale Mortgage stock last week, driven by a report from a hedge fund that shorted the nonbank, has raised awareness on the number of mortgage companies that are being shorted.

A Michigan appeals court judge affirmed that UWM’s move to compel arbitration in a dispute with a former employee was seven months too late.

Hunterbrook Capital is going after United Wholesale Mortgage, lobbing allegations and shorting stock in the nonbank; Michael Barr, vice chair for supervision at the Fed doesn’t find the rhetoric regarding bank capital requirements particularly useful; Ocwen plans to rebrand as Onity.

Loans to communities ranked with a high social vulnerability index made up roughly 22% of Rural Housing Service-guaranteed single-family home loans in the fourth quarter of 2023. (Includes data table.)

Many of the problematic provisions in UWM’s employment contracts are common in the mortgage industry.

Expanded-credit mortgage originations declined by 8.0% in the third quarter, continuing a downward slide that started earlier this year. (Includes data table.)