“While we’re trying to lend fairly in an unfair world, the regulatory and enforcement apparatus have created this environment that we’re in and they will be looking to enforce based upon those rules,” said industry consultant Maurice Jourdain-Earl.

JPM has made it clear: the megabank refuses to chase market share in a world of declining originations.

Investors at private equity firms told IMFnews that they believe Lawsky is using the DFS as a “bully pulpit,” paving the way for a possible run for public office.

Non-agency mortgage lending staged a minor revolt in 2013, reversing two years of increasing domination of the market by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae. The only growth spots in the mortgage market last year were in jumbo originations and home-equity lending, according to a new ranking and analysis by Inside Mortgage Finance. Jumbo production surged 20.9 percent from 2012 levels to an estimated $272 billion – the strongest output for the sector since 2007. Home-equity lending was...[Includes two data charts]

The InterLinc executive said there’s a great deal of interest from potential acquisition targets, but he cautions that, “Not everyone wants to make the move.”

The Obama administration is asking Congress for authority to charge FHA lenders an “administrative fee” to help pay for improvements to the FHA quality assurance program. FHA wants to build a new quality assurance framework that will provide lenders more clarity about the agency’s expectations regarding the loan production process, said FHA Commissioner Carol Galante during a media briefing on provisions in the administration’s fiscal 2015 budget proposal that affect the Department of Housing and Urban Development. The idea is...

Overall, HUD’s entire 2015 budget seeks a 2.6 percent increase over FY 2014 levels to $46.66 billion.

Subprime delinquencies are increasing, but it's unclear whether the trend will last or whether it's just a blip on the radar screen.

GOP senators recently dispatched a letter to FHFA Director Mel Watt, countering a plea signed by 33 Democrats in January calling on the agency director to immediately authorize GSE funding to the National Housing Trust Fund and the Capital Magnet Fund.

Mortgage bankers are concerned how the proposed FHA fee will be applied and whether it may cause lenders to become even more cautious and less incented to use the full FHA credit box.