HARP volume fell a stunning 75.9 percent in 2014. So is it time to stick a fork in the program and call it a day?

Most mortgage lenders reported solid increases in refinance originations during the fourth quarter of 2014, but the faltering purchase-mortgage sector still accounted for most of their business. A new Inside Mortgage Finance ranking and analysis reveals that refinance originations increased by 16.9 percent from the third to the fourth quarter. Based on securitization figures from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae, refi activity rose by a more modest 14.0 percent, although these data trail the primary market by one or two months. Meanwhile, purchase-mortgage originations were...[Includes five data charts]

In a new regulatory filing Bill Erbey's Salt Pond is described as a provider of merchant banking services.

JPM's latest jumbo MBS has strong underwriting characteristics, including an average combined loan-to-value ratio of 66.5 percent...

At Impac, Mangiaracina will split his time between the nonbank’s headquarters in Irvine, CA, and New York where the company has just opened a new satellite office.

Quicken Loans was the second largest refi lender in 2014 with $47.91 billion, according to exclusive figures compiled by Inside Mortgage Finance.

The most aggressive bidders for high-performing mortgage loan officers are nonbanks, which have been steadily stealing market share away from the megabanks...

“If something goes wrong, Ocwen will be on the hook,” said this source. “But it’s really clean stuff.”

Although George Ellison’s salary was not disclosed in the press release announcing his employment with the company, a subsequent filing provided details: $450,000 per year, another $450,000 in incentive bonuses...

Ginnie is currently managing TBW’s FHA portfolio and hopes to sell its Ginnie servicing rights sometime this year.