Bidders continue to sidle up to the MSR auction bar as interest rates move higher. Are premium prices beginning to waiver? We’re not there yet but sometimes the market can turn on a dime.

If it weren’t for MSR sales, Home Point would have lost money in the fourth quarter. The nonbank continues to scale back its breadth, announcing a deal to sell its stake in reverse lender Longbridge Financial.

The federal appeals court has dismissed all claims in Fairholme Funds and seven other shareholder lawsuits against the U.S. government.

In comments due last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association and the American Bankers Association weighed in on draft principles on climate-related financial risk management from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

In a statement of interest, the Department of Justice said the court should hold that the Fair Housing Act applies to discriminatory appraisal practices.

The servicer will pay $1.5 million to settle a class action alleging it recorded phone conversations with mortgagors without their consent.

Okay, so the first eight weeks of the year have been tough on originators. However, it looks as though Russia’s invasion of Ukraine could cause the Federal Reserve to move slowly on interest rates.

Warehouse finance was a great business to be in the past two years. But with rates rising and primary market originations slipping, all bets are off. The spring homebuying season should bring some relief. (Includes data chart.)

In January, the GSEs took in a significant volume of mortgages with balances greater than the baseline conforming loan limit for 2021. Note: A number of lenders had given themselves a head start on 2022 loan limits.

An improving economy made it possible for the mortgage giant to generate $5.10 billion in credit-related gains in 2021.