Mortgage bankers originated $54 billion of jumbo loans in the first quarter, a slight decline from the prior period but the second best showing in two years.

The two biggest components of the residential mortgage market – conventional loans below the conforming loan limits and government-insured mortgages – saw measurable declines in new originations in early 2013, according to a new Inside Mortgage Finance analysis and ranking. The conventional-conforming market – nearly all of which is financed through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac securitization – fell to an estimated $333.0 billion during the first quarter of 2013. That was down 5.4 percent from the fourth quarter of last year, but the sector still accounted for a hefty 66.6 percent of total originations during the period. The conventional-conforming market share hasn’t changed...[Includes two data charts]

Thanks to coming changes in FHA’s mortgage insurance premium cancellation policy, investors in the secondary market met avoid these loans.

Are Fannie Mae and Freddie mac sitting on huge untapped profits?

Sen. Warner recently paid a visit to Freddie Mac employees but offered little information about his pending GSE bill.

Fannie and Freddie were ordered by their regulator to sell illiquid securities. But those bonds may fetch a nice price in the secondary market.

Reps. Shelley Moore Capito, R-WV and Sean Duffy, R-WI, respectively chairman and vice chairman of the subcommittee, had not viewed the CFPB’s analysis on QM.

FHA jumbo lenders produced an estimated $5.44 billion in loans over $417,000 during the first three months of the year.

Might the controversial "qualified mortgage" rule be repealed? Maybe, if House Republicans have their way.

Wells Fargo and HSBC are stepping up sales of nonperforming mortgages, while keeping a lid on the details.