Lenders operating in the consumer-direct channel have a distinct opportunity to use technology to improve the mortgage experience for borrowers, according to findings from the Strategic Mortgage Finance Group. Garth Graham, a senior partner at the firm more commonly referred to as Stratmor, detailed the findings in a new publication from the mortgage-industry consulting firm. The Stratmor executive suggested that consumer-direct lenders should work with technology that ...

When origination volume begins growing rapidly, as it appears to have in the second quarter, lenders often ramp up their third-party origination platforms rather than beef up their retail production capacity. According to a new Inside Mortgage Trends analysis of agency mortgage-backed securities data, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae securitized $156.23 billion of TPO loans during the second quarter, a 32.2 percent increase over the previous ... [Includes one data chart]

Applications for refinances decreased slightly last week compared with the week prior, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, as average interest rates on mortgages increased during the week.

The changes follow looser underwriting standards implemented by Redwood outside of the MPF Direct product.

Some 5.0 percent of MGIC’s new insurance written in the second quarter of 2016 was for mortgages with loan-to-value ratios above 95 percent.

To help address racial disparities in lending, the NCRC called for expansion of the Community Reinvestment Act, stronger enforcement of the CRA and strengthening of the government-sponsored enterprises’ affordable housing goals.

The bank’s residential whole loan portfolio (based on average balances) totaled $275.85 billion at quarter’s end compared to $266.02 billion a year ago.

Lone Star produced a rare rated deal backed by subprime loans that had been originated within the past year …

MBS prepayment speeds are likely to climb higher because of falling mortgage interest rates, but industry analysts are undecided about how big a factor borrower burn-out will be. The Mortgage Bankers Association said its refinance loan application index climbed to 2575.9 in the week ending July 1, its highest level since early 2015. The index fell last week to 2295.8. The average interest rate on a 30-year, fixed-rate conventional conforming mortgage fell...

The average daily trading volume in agency MBS totaled $212.6 billion in June, a slight decline from the month prior, according to the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. Still, that’s a far cry better than the low established back in December of 2015 when the reading came in at $149.2 billion. June’s performance came...