While nonbanks ranking among the top-100 lenders boosted production by 3.2% in the first quarter, depository institutions posted a 7.9% drop. (Includes two data charts.)

Time to throw away the loss-mitigation toolbox in dealing with COVID-related delinquencies? Maybe not.

Though demand for purchase mortgages is increasing, it is nowhere near levels sufficient to make up for the decline in refi activity, say lenders.

Nonbank Cornerstone Home moves to buy an FDIC-insured institution. Also, should anyone be worried about SoFi’s progress in mortgages?

Competition among the two dominant players in the wholesale channel continues to reduce the profit equation. However, margins from retail lending remain robust … for the moment.

Critics argue that community banks and small credit unions are vulnerable to rules designed for large lenders. Also, if Fannie and Freddie exit conservatorship, many of the guardrails protecting small lenders could vanish.

Incenter Mortgage Advisors is known mostly as a servicing broker and whole loan trader, but through an affiliate it wants to help nonbank mortgage firms tap the student loan market. Will it fly?

PennyMac ranked as the top producer of purchase-money mortgages in the first quarter of 2021. Quicken Loans remained the top refi lender but lost ground to many competitors. (Includes four data charts.)

The origination boom had to end sometime, but don’t reach for the hankies quite yet. Applications remain strong and no one’s going out of business, or so we’re told.

Fannie and Freddie have provided lenders with some flexibilities on construction-related loans. Also, they will pause acquisitions of refinances of mortgages with high loan-to-value ratios.