Just one nonbank, PHH Mortgage, ranked among the top ten originators of jumbo loans in the first-half. Guaranteed Rate ranked 12th and Quicken 16th.

The trend toward private MI is likely to continue in anticipation of the FHA Solvency Act of 2013, which is awaiting action on the Senate floor.

A housing lobbyist added that, “Right now it’s a matter of timing. Will in come in October or a little later than that?”

The FDIC will raise the question of a 30 percent downpayment but don't expect to see it in the final QRM rule.

It appears that mortgage bankers are beginning to liberalize, somewhat, the credit scores they're willing to accept on FHA loans.

The former Encore Mortgage executive said he will concentrate on lower FICO score lending, in particular what he calls the “B&C” market.

Today, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac g-fees average 50 to 55 basis points compared to 24 bp back in 2009.

FHA is seeing its cash reserves increase more than expected. Meanwhile, yet another mortgage vendor is laying off workers.

Fannie Mae is lowering its maximum loan-to-value ratio to 95 percent come November, and there is speculation that the decision could force some of that business over to FHA. The policy change was confirmed by the GSE when it sent out an update to users of its automated processing program, Desktop Underwriter. It also means that mortgage insurers could lose business at a time when many have shown a new willingness to take on more credit risk amid improving delinquencies and earnings. Mark Goldhaber, a former executive at Genworth Financial, which owns an MI company, told ...

Originations of non-agency jumbo mortgages continued to increase in the second quarter of 2013, according to a new ranking and analysis by Inside Nonconforming Markets. The growth was fueled by banks offering highly competitive interest rates in an effort to retain jumbos in portfolio. Wells Fargo was the top-ranked jumbo lender through two quarters in 2013, by a wide margin. The lender had $21.87 billion in jumbo originations in the first half of 2013, accounting for 19.4 percent of ... [Includes one data chart]