FHA lenders capped a nine-month production run with a total of $99.39 billion in forward mortgages, thanks to a strong push in the third quarter of 2014, according to Inside FHA Lending’s analysis of agency data. Third-quarter production totaled $38.3 billion, up 16.6 percent from the previous quarter. Year-over-year originations, however, were off by 43.0 percent. FHA endorsements have now fallen from a peak of 1.8 million loans in FY 2009 to approximately 786,000 in FY 2014, according to the latest independent actuarial review of the health of the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund. The 57 percent reduction in endorsements takes FHA closer to the lower levels of activities seen just prior to the housing bubble, the report noted. A sharp decline in refi activity drove the substantial drop in forward loan endorsements in fiscal 2014. Previously, many homeowners ... [1 chart]

Based on the run-rate of the first nine months, HEL production could top almost $67 billion in 2014, which would be the best year since 2009.

Still, the new index from the Urban Institute is not perfect...

Several weeks back, a FHFA official told IMFnews that just 18 members would be affected by the captive rule, mostly REITs.

In regard to misrepresentations, relief will not be offered if it can be proved that a borrower was misled by the originator. And, of course, any mortgage subject to fraud must be bought back.

A GSE bill? Since Congress and President Obama have such a strong track record of working together on legislation we know how that’s going to turn out…

Mortgage originations increased in all the major product categories during the third quarter of 2014, although new adjustable-rate mortgage lending was down slightly. A new Inside Mortgage Finance analysis shows that conventional-conforming originations increased by 11.7 percent from the second quarter to the third. That was slightly faster than the 10.2 percent increase in jumbo production and the 10.1 percent rise in government-insured lending. The home-equity market showed...[Includes two data charts]

Fitch warned that about 25 percent of the collateral received C or D grades for material violations or lack of documentation.

The two GSEs have been in conservatorship for six-plus years now, with no legislative solution to their future in sight.

The new bulletin discusses standards and guidelines on verification of disability income, including those under the CFPB’s ability-to-repay rule.