Leaders at big lenders believe the spring homebuying season will continue through the summer, thanks to the shift to a buyers’ market. Real estate companies are less optimistic, citing “punishing” interest rates.

Acra, a top player in the non-qualified mortgage market, has a new CEO, Shawn Stone.

Mortgage hiring moved forward in June but not by much amid uncertainty on the outlook for interest rates.

The bill is now headed to President Trump’s desk; Frank Cassidy nominated for FHA commissioner.

The Mortgage Bankers Association and other groups supported the wide-ranging bill which is aimed at housing affordability. MBA, though, raised some concerns about appraisal reforms included in the package.

New credit score data, such as rent payment history and bank account cash flows, may benefit some mortgage borrowers, but the new elements could also cause some problems.

The Federal Reserve and Treasury Department are on a path to reducing capital requirements for banks, large and small. The motivation includes the shift seen in mortgage lending toward nonbanks following the 2008 crisis.

After working for more than two years toward a spinoff of Newrez, Rithm Capital paused the effort and will invest in the mortgage unit.

Originations spiked by nearly 40% from the first quarter to the second. For the first half of the year, volume was up 13.3%. Lenders outside of the top five gained some market share in the April-to-June period. (Includes two data tables.)

While FHFA Director Bill Pulte had announced that the GSEs would “immediately” begin accepting VantageScore 4.0, FHFA acknowledged this week that implementation will take some time.