Mortgage bankers continue to talk about declining refi applications but purchase money firms remain mostly optimistic about their prospects.

“Confusion and uncertainty around representations and warranties standards continue to cause lenders to add their own overlays to the existing GSE credit standards,” said MBA vice chairman Bill Cosgrove.

Are huge origination profits a thing of the past? Meanwhile, time is running out on the White House GSE petition.

Some non-agency participants have called for an immediate return to conforming loan limits of $417,000, which were in place in 2008 before Congress established “emergency” loan limits for high-cost areas.

The new Bachus bill could be a sign that House Republicans are making a fresh push to force a compromise with the Obama administration over the structure of the CFPB.

One source said Bexil shareholders will hold a meeting on the issue, possibly by week’s end.

The recent rate spike is causing concerns in the jumbo market, particularly for issuers.

Want to issue MBS in the mortgage market of the future? Better bring your wallet.

Piper Jaffray owns 8.72 percent of Bexil Corp., the parent of Bexil American Mortgage. Meanwhile, ICBA likes the Corker-Warner bill, but...

It appears that looser underwriting has been driven by an increase in the number of lenders participating in the HARP program and copy-cat efforts that allow for LTVs of greater than 95 percent.