Only two major mortgage lenders — PennyMac and CitiMortgage — managed to deliver more loans to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the fourth quarter than in the third. (Includes two data charts.)
Retail lending took another precipitous drop in the third quarter. But the fall is more of a return to the norm after heady days fueled by refinances. (Includes data chart.)
Sales of refinance loans plummeted to the lowest level in at least eight years. But purchase-mortgage sales had a bad month too. (Includes two data charts.)
Issuance of new Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities fell 10% in the third quarter. Purchase-money activity climbed at both FHA and VA, but not enough to offset declines in loan mods and cash-out refinances.