Lenders looking for efficiencies should adopt artificial intelligence, machine learning and blockchain, according to various technology vendors. They claim that the technology can be implemented without exceptionally high costs but caution that early adopters face some risks. AI is generally defined as a collection of machine-learning algorithms assembled for certain tasks. Blockchain is distributed ledger technology. The tech was an area of focus at the ABS East conference ...

Commercial banks and savings institutions repurchased only $422.7 million of single-family mortgages during the second quarter of 2018, according to an analysis of call-report data by Inside Mortgage Trends. It was the lowest three-month repurchase total for the industry since regulators began collecting this data back in 2008. Repurchases, including other indemnification for investor losses, were down 42.3 percent from the first quarter. The call-report figures ... [Includes one data chart]

The Federal Home Loan Banks reported a record $736.70 billion of advances outstanding at the end of June, rebounding from a sharp decline during the first quarter of the year. Outstanding advances at the midyear point were up 5.4 percent from March even though the volume of new advances originated fell 5.9 percent during that period. Still, advance originations exceeded the repayment of existing loans, which declined ... [Includes two data charts}

The outlook for the Federal Home Loan Banks is stable, but Standard & Poors’ Global Ratings points to a few potential weaknesses that could threaten the health of the system. S&P pointed to the small but growing exposure to nondepository financial institutions as a cause for concern. The rating agency also warned of challenges to broad-based advance growth and longer-term uncertainty due to potential legislative changes associated with housing-finance reform. And although the FHLBanks have increased their reliance on short-term funding in response to demand from its members, S&P said, “Given the generally match-funded approach to issuance, as well as the overcollateralization of advances to members, we believe that the tenor of the system's funding remains manageable.”

Fannie Mae is helping to alleviate some of the additional responsibilities servicers take on during post-foreclosure sales on reverse mortgage loans. In a Sept. 18 announcement, the GSE updated its policy and said it will now take responsibility for ground rents, co-op fees and assessments, and property taxes for certain properties in Fannie’s real estate- owned inventory. The policy change is applicable to all reverse mortgage loans. Last year Fannie also took on additional responsibilities from servicers for post-foreclosure sales. The GSE announced it would pay property taxes for acquired properties with a foreclosure sale date or final acceptance of an executed mortgage release after July 7, 2017.

The bank retreat from agency MBS servicing is mostly taking place at the top…

Expanded-credit mortgages accounted for less than 3 percent of total first-lien originations in the first half of this year.

But there’s a catch: the portfolio has a delinquency rate of 11.5 percent and foreclosures of 1.5 percent.

However, bankers and advisors who ply their trade in the MSR market have told Inside Mortgage Finance there is adequate financing available to nonbanks.

To date, Watt has maintained that he did not do anything legally wrong...