Congress extends NFIP through Feb. 2, 2024; FHA proposes updated home equity conversion mortgage assignment claims eligibility policy; FHA extends waiver on face-to-face interviews with distressed borrowers; VA extends foreclosure moratorium for Hawaii wildfires; HUD OIG reports on HUD’s top management challenges.

A reduction in operating expenses and acquisitions of newly originated non-qualified mortgages helped Angel Oak’s mortgage REIT post an $8.3 million profit in the third quarter.

Ellington Financial’s profits increased in the third quarter thanks to moves involving non-agency mortgages. Meanwhile, AG Mortgage Investment Trust took a loss in the quarter.

Chase remained the top servicer of jumbo mortgages in the third quarter of this year, followed by Wells Fargo. (Includes data table.)

MFA Financial’s CEO said the third quarter of 2023 was its toughest since the Federal Reserve began its rate-hiking cycle 20 months ago.

Student loan debt and rising interest rates are causing challenges for mortgages underwritten using debt service coverage ratios.

Altisource Asset Management spilled $13.4 million of red ink in the third quarter, bringing its total losses to $23.9 million since the fourth quarter of 2022.

Affluent homebuyers are choosing all-cash deals over mortgage financing to avoid the high-interest rate environment.

CFPB increases threshold to determine whether higher-priced mortgage loans are subject to special appraisal requirements; LoanStream licensed in Alaska; Upstart launches HELOC product; Valley National Bank launches HELOC for LMI borrowers.

With mortgage rates declining of late, sellers of non-QM collateral might see better prices in the secondary market. Then again, the optimism may be too early, one trader advised.