High interest rates are cutting into demand for mortgages; many consumers’ expectations for interest rates are wrong; ICE and Black Knight move close to merger; servicer using blockchain, lender guarantees underwriting results from AI; Flagstar’s mortgage tech accelerator; mortgage payoff fraud attempts increase.

The CFPB reached settlements with Freedom Mortgage Corporation and Realty Connect, a real estate brokerage. The firms will pay a total of around $2 million for various allegations around illegal referrals.

The Obama-era task force set up to investigate MBS fraud that contributed to the 2008 crisis has finished its job. Its efforts led the DOJ to collect $36 billion in penalties from banks, originators and rating agencies.

Non-qualified mortgage lenders are increasingly opting for whole-loan sales given the demand from insurance companies, among others.

A court ruling in California may have far-reaching consequences for the way non-agency MBS clean-up call prices are calculated.

Ginnie Mae could relieve financial pressure on its nonbank issuers by guaranteeing their short-term obligations, according to a proposal from former Ginnie President Ted Tozer.

There’s nothing like a new capital proposal to fan the flames of speculation. Might possible changes in bank regulations alter the market for CRA loans?

The rating service will assess expected payments from private mortgage insurers, with implications for MI-linked note issuance and potentially non-agency MBS with loans that have private MI.

Some 43 loans tied to coworking space provider WeWork are spread across 84 commercial MBS, according to KBRA.

Mortgages in the new non-QM MBS from Change have seasoned for an average of just one month.