Freedom Mortgage more than doubled its production from the fourth quarter to the first. Mike Patterson, COO of the nonbank, said the growth was driven by attractive loan characteristics.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development has finalized rules that would modernize residential building standards.

The amount of servicing outstanding in Ginnie MBS increased by 1.6% during the first quarter. Lakeview/Bayview Loan Servicing increased its market share thanks to large purchases of MSRs.

Nonbank issuers in the Ginnie Mae program should have better access to funding from commercial banks to help bolster their liquidity, according to a proposal from the Housing Policy Council.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Adrianne Todman last week made her first appearance before the Senate Banking and Housing Committee as acting secretary.

FHA and VA lenders and servicers should prepare for more regulation related to climate risk and housing sustainability, speakers at an AmeriCatalyst conference last week suggested.

The final rule on the Federal Flood Risk Management Standard includes new requirements for FHA mortgages.

HUD finalizes rule on interested party contributions for FHA HECM for purchase program; Ginnie announces payment default status dataset; federal jury convicts FHA borrower of fraud; and more news briefs.

Fannie and Freddie find a way to deal with the NAR settlement without changing the rules.

Mortgage financing was used on 80% of purchases of primary residences last year, a survey by the National Association of Realtors showed.