As they approach their eighth year in conservatorship, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac generate a lot of revenue for the government and dominate the conventional-conforming mortgage market. But both government-sponsored enterprises are forced to hold less and less capital, and a bad quarter or two could force another round of bailouts. Aside from lawsuits by disgruntled GSE shareholders, pressure appears to be growing for a new approach that would allow the two to rebuild their capital. According to reports, Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-SC, may introduce such a bill in one of the least hospitable places it could land, the House Financial Services Committee. As of press time Mulvaney’s office has not returned...

The Blackstone Group, which has been gobbling up mortgage banking franchises of late, may have its eye on the mortgage insurance space. But for now it does not appear that it plans to rebuild what’s left of PMI Mortgage insurance as a going concern. As usual, the investment banker is saying little about what it plans to do with its “strategic investment” in The PMI Group, a once top-ranked MI that was placed into receivership back in 2012. PMI isn’t talking either. The investment, revealed last week, was made through the Blackstone Tactical Opportunities Fund. When the announcement was first unveiled, both analysts and MI professionals were left...

Home-equity lending jumped to its strongest level in seven years during the second quarter of 2015, but most depository institutions continued to see declining balances in their home-equity portfolios, according to a new Inside Mortgage Finance ranking and analysis. An estimated $24.0 billion of home-equity lines-of-credit and second mortgages were originated during the second quarter, up 23.1 percent from the first three months of the year. It was the highest production level since the second quarter of 2008. Although the Federal Reserve won’t release an official figure for home-equity loans outstanding at the end of June until next week, call-report data suggest...[Includes three data tables]

Besides Fidelity, other institutional investors have slashed their holdings in the company, fearing that its best days are behind it.

Although the bulk market has faced headwinds in recent weeks, the “flow” servicing market has been “robust,” Piercy said.

Many left-leaning politicians have complained that Wall Street executives got off the hook for the financial crisis...

Roughly $24.0 billion of home-equity lines-of-credit and second mortgages were originated during 2Q, up 23.1 percent from the first three months of the year.

Former Fannie executive Tim Rood, now chairman and founder of the Collingwood Group, said "the current posture by the administration is pretty indefensible.”

At mid year 2015, PennyMac was the nation’s 12th largest servicer, according to a ranking from Inside Mortgage Finance.

All issuers must comply with the revised requirements, which take effect immediately, in order to remain an eligible participant in the Ginnie Mae program.