New York regulator Benjamin Lawsky also questioned the efficiencies touted by nonbank mortgage servicers, countering that “technology alone does not keep a family in its home."

But would Guaranteed Rate ponder a sale? No, said company executive Ted Ahern. “We’re not for sale. We intend to stay that way.”

The Mortgage Bankers Association continues to trim its production forecast for 2014 as the year progresses. Still, some lenders are hopeful and most of them are nonbanks.

Apparently, CitiMortgage wants to grow its presence in the origination market, including the correspondent channel where it has a slight pulse.

There is a tradeoff between taking on more higher-risk loans and raising g-fee prices, FHFA official Bob Ryan noted, and the calculation has to take into account other players in the market, such as the FHA.

Donovan is leaving HUD at a time when housing and mortgage industry advocates are pushing for reductions in FHA premiums.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is on the lookout for lenders that facilitate occupancy fraud as a way to avoid the agency's ability-to-repay rule.

Meanwhile, industry sources said Select Portfolio Servicing is working on a large MSR acquisition, which could transfer shortly.

The jumbo MBS market has been extremely weak this year, but a change may be afoot.

So, what’s the biggest impediment to mortgage volumes taking off this spring? According to a new poll from Inside Mortgage Finance, it’s a lack of housing inventory.