Home lending is picking up, but not dramatically. And that means mortgage bankers are being cautious about hiring.

Bayview to acquire Guild; Senate approves trigger leads bill; REIT to acquire non-QM lender, Fairway to acquire retail lender; trade groups seek exemption for real estate from potential new tax.

Cenlar is building a new warehouse finance operation and mortgage conduit, adding to its leading subservicing offering.

Agency securitization of high-balance loans declined by 46.0% in the first quarter. The non-agency jumbo share of first liens was flat compared with the fourth quarter while the agency high-balance share dwindled. (Includes three data tables.)

Industry participants are worried the Trump administration is using a chainsaw, rather than a scalpel, in its deregulation efforts.

Both the correspondent and broker channels have gained share from the retail channel. The first quarter of 2025 marked the third straight quarter in which retail accounted for less than 50% of total first-lien originations. (Includes six data tables.)

In response to deregulatory efforts by the Trump administration, the MBA and ABA suggested ways to boost bank mortgage activity.

The Fed lifts asset cap imposed on Wells Fargo; bill to establish VA partial claims program introduced in Senate; mortgage applications slow.

Originations of nonconforming mortgages increased by 45.7% on an annual basis in the first quarter of 2025. Government-insured lending was up 13.5% and conventional-conforming activity treaded water. (Includes two data tables.)

The president’s plan to maintain the implicit guarantee of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac MBS still leaves unanswered many questions that skeptics say are critical to the GSEs’ safe and sound exit from conservatorship.