With heavy refinance activity feeding a strong increase in mortgage originations during 2012, lenders last year relied more heavily on their in-house capacity than ever before. A new Inside Mortgage Finance ranking and analysis shows that lenders generated a whopping $1.101 trillion in new originations through their retail production efforts, including both consumer-direct lending and traditional brick-and-mortar branches. That was up 29.2 percent from total retail originations back in 2011 and it represented a record 60.0 percent of total production for last year. The fact that the retail share of new originations held...[Includes four data charts]

The CFPB continues to increase its staff levels by significant numbers with hiring jumping by 26 percent this year.

Retail mortgage lending, in terms of market share, set a new record last year, but those gains may fade.

The five servicers participating in the $25.0 billion national “robo-signing” settlement are well on their way toward meeting their obligations.

PowerLink Settlement, a service provider and appraisal management joint venture controlled by Fidelity National Financial and Homeward Residential, is shutting its doors.

IsZo Capital Management increases stake in Impac Mortgage.

HSBC is planning a large nonperforming mortgage auction that could happen early in the second quarter.

GSE reform could see the light of day after all - or at least an attempt at it.

Redwood is in the market with a new jumbo deal, this one with loans that have little in the way of seasoning.

If Wells Fargo sells MSRs more investment vehicles dedicated to servicing rights may spring up.