The results of a new survey conducted for NeighborWorks America suggest that student loan debt is an obstacle for a growing share of potential homebuyers. The congressionally chartered organization with a focus on housing counseling also found confusion among potential homebuyers regarding the mortgage market. Some 57 percent of respondents said student loan debt was an obstacle to purchasing a home, up from a 49 percent share last year. The survey involved 1,000 adults. And 76 percent of respondents with student debt said the homebuying process is complicated, up from a 70 percent share in 2014. The greatest obstacle for potential homebuyers continues...

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac this week announced a new “origination defects and remedies framework” designed to give lenders more clarity about underwriting problems that could lead to a repurchase demand. The framework sets three categories of loan defect: findings, price-adjusted loans and significant defects. Findings are negligible defects that had no effect on whether the loan was acceptable to the government-sponsored enterprise. The GSE will not require a price adjustment or other remedy from the lender, though it may request updated data regarding the loan. Price-adjusted loans are...

Over the past few months, the chief executive officers at two publicly traded mortgage firms and a private cooperative have departed, creating uncertainty in the market while underscoring what might seem obvious to some: It’s not easy running a mortgage business these days. CEOs heading for the exits – either on their own accord or via a management edict – include Jim Cutillo of Stonegate, Jeff McGuiness at the Lenders One Cooperative, and most recently Mark O’Brien, who headed nonbank lender/servicer Walter Investment Management Corp. And rounding out the “departure club” is...

The new remedies framework includes more transparency about the factors a GSE will weigh in determining whether a defect is significant.

Although the TRID bill passed by a huge margin and with bi-partisan support, President Obama is threatening a veto.

“The issues that have impeded the regulators’ ability to conduct electronic examinations must be rectified, and when resolved, will enable a more efficient and timely regulatory process,” said Karyn Tierney, chair of the MMC.

Meanwhile, PHH's partner, Realogy, this week said it intends to raise $1.15 billion through the sale of senior notes.

Fear and loathing over marketing service agreements heats up. Kickbacks?

Although overall MBS volume was down, lenders delivered a healthy $115.16 billion of purchase-money mortgages to the GSEs during the third quarter.

Like many banks that have had run-ins with the DOJ and HUD IG, Fifth Third's FHA volume has fallen dramatically.