The VA home loan program was up 23.5 percent in the first six months of 2013, although activity slowed by 1.5 percent from the first quarter, according to Inside FHA Lending’s analysis of VA data. The VA reported $74.4 billion in purchase and refinanced loans during the first six months, with refis accounting for 52.9 percent of total volume. The program’s share of the overall mortgage insurance market fell to 22.2 percent in the second quarter from 24.3 percent in the previous quarter. Combining their year-to-date results, the FHA and VA reported a combined ... [1 chart]

HUD Seeks Comment on Proposed Multifamily Rule. The Department of Housing and Urban Development is seeking comment on proposed changes to regulations covering contract rights and obligations of FHA multifamily lenders. When a lender finances multifamily loans through bonds or bond anticipation notes, it uses the FHA insurance claim funds to pay off the remaining bond debts. At times, the claims payments are greater than the remaining bond debts. The proposed rule would require lenders to return to the FHA the excess bond funds that remain after ...

Redwood Trust said it expects to hit its goal of acquiring $8 billion in non-agency jumbos in 2013, “but it won’t be easy" company officials said.

According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, FHA has nearly exhausted its $25 billion authority for FY 2013 to insure multifamily, risk share and health care programs.

In other words, if Fannie keeps earning money at this rate, it could repay its “debt” to Treasury by year-end or the first quarter of next year.

According to figures compiled by IMF, U.S. Bank Home saw its residential fundings slip to $18.62 billion in the second quarter compared to $22.46 billion in the first.

Wells Fargo cuts 760-plus mortgage workers. Meanwhile, Bexil American enters the New Jersey market through the wholesale channel.

Specifically, Sen. Warren says she wants information on seller/servicers that were granted price breaks and the “basis” for “granting more favorable terms.”

In the wake of EverBank’s recent exit from the wholesale/broker channel, there appear to be signs of expansion in the sector with nonbanks leading the charge. But mortgage brokers shouldn’t get their hopes up too much: Many of those expanding are nonbanks and none are likely to fill the void created by the megabanks – Bank of America, Chase and Wells Fargo – which began pulling out three years ago. “I truly believe...

Given the complexity of the 3 percent points-and-fees cap for qualified mortgages under the ability-to-repay rule and the imperative of getting it right, mortgage lenders could still find themselves outside the compliance box if they ignore the fair lending implications of their business practices. “Fair lending is definitely something we have to take into consideration in every decision we make and every rule we come across,” said Ginger Moore, the compliance officer at PrimeLending, during a webinar last week sponsored by Inside Mortgage Finance. One example is...