One positive trend for the mortgage insurance sector is that the growth in business during the second quarter was squarely in purchase mortgages and traditional MI loan-to-value ranges.

Don't believe the naysayers. Second quarter originations turned out to be better than expected.

“Under the proposed amendment, lenders who pursue these deceptive practices may receive a safe harbor for these transactions,” the CSBS said.

An early analysis of second quarter loan level data suggests that residential originations were a little better in the April to June time-frame than some might believe. See this website on Thursday for more information…

Non-QM origination volume could rise above $400 billion a year if the GSEs are no longer in conservatorship. Of course, Fannie and Freddie are nowhere close to doing that...

Impac anticipates that 90 percent of its non-QM volume will come through the correspondent and broker channels.

Marc Savitt, president of the National Association of Independent Housing Professionals, said he is seeing more lenders entering the wholesale channel. Most are nonbanks.

With just $1 trillion in originations expected this year, lenders and servicers are trimming their payrolls accordingly.

Will loan production in the second half surprise the naysayers? Will non-QM lending take off? Stay tuned...

Will PHH sell its mortgage division this year? Don't bet on it. But it will spend millions on a company restructuring.