The CFPB plans to launch a pilot project as part of its efforts to improve the mortgage closing process.

Some industry analysts suggest that originations of purchase mortgages have been held back by potential borrowers’ debt-to-income ratios, which have increased along with rises in home prices. However, originations of purchase mortgages have increased in the past year as home prices have risen and it’s more than DTI ratios shutting certain borrowers out of the purchase market. Even though interest rates on mortgages remain at relatively low levels, housing affordability has been an increasing concern due to trends in home prices. Borrowers in parts of California, as well as Denver, Miami and Portland, could have difficulty qualifying for a purchase mortgage, according to a recent analysis by Zillow. Based on income, mortgage and home-value data for the fourth quarter of 2013, Zillow found...

The Dodd-Frank Act prompted major changes for mortgage joint ventures, with some firms striking out on their own and others sticking with the smaller market.

The MBA and others want documentation from HUD detailing the recent reduction to FHA loan limits in certain high-cost areas.

Market fundamentals appear to have blunted the expected impact of Homeowner Bill of Rights laws enacted by three states in 2013.

Originations by six major banks in the first quarter of 2014 fell by 27.9 percent compared with the previous quarter.

U.S. Bank's mortgage originations in the first quarter of 2014 declined by 71.2 percent compared with the first quarter of 2013.

Purchase mortgages securitized by Fannie, Freddie and Ginnie in the first quarter of 2014 were down by 76.3 percent compared with the first quarter of 2013.

DBRS suggests it's likely that most of the U.S. population won't be able to qualify for a mortgage any time soon...

The outage of Ellie Mae's Encompass systems at the end of the first quarter appears to be due to a malfunction on Ellie Mae's end, not a malicious attack.