Residential mortgage production remained fairly strong in the second quarter thanks to an increase in retail-channel originations, which reached an all-time high of 64.6 percent in market share, according to a new analysis and ranking by Inside Mortgage Finance. The surge in retail production appears largely tied to ongoing strength in refinance activity. But lenders that are turning their attention to the purchase-mortgage market should consider that correspondents (34.8 percent) and brokers (22.0 percent) had higher concentrations of purchase loans than retail producers (19.3 percent) during the second quarter, based on Fannie/Freddie activity. Wells Fargo, as usual, continued...[Includes five data charts]
The warehouse lending market continued to hum along in the second quarter, but executives in charge of extending credit to nonbank mortgage lenders are beginning to see certain warning signs, including lower profit margins. Profits are definitely tightening, said Chuck Mueller, president and CEO of Fidelity Bank, Edina, MN, a one-branch bank whose forte is warehouse lending. Some executives note...[Includes one data chart]
The PATH Act awaits a vote on the House floor. But Hensarlings measure is widely viewed as a non-starter in comparison to the Senates bipartisan Corker-Warner bill.