Fitch Ratings recently updated its criteria for estimating losses on residential MBS transactions, introducing three new variables that influence default expectations, including the origination channel. Fitch said it has determined that loans originated through a direct retail channel have a lower default risk than those originated through brokers or correspondents. To account for this risk, the rating agency is now assigning a higher default probability to loans originated through non-retail channels. This newly added variable is applied...

The CFPB is sharing with industry what examiners will look for when assessing the ability-to-repay, qualified mortgage and other key rules.

Fitch has determined that loans originated through a direct retail channel have a lower default risk than those originated through brokers or correspondents.

The warehouse lending market continued to hum along in the second quarter, but executives in charge of extending credit to nonbank mortgage lenders are beginning to see certain warning signs, including lower profit margins. “Profits are definitely tightening,” said Chuck Mueller, president and CEO of Fidelity Bank, Edina, MN, a one-branch bank whose forte is warehouse lending. Some executives note...[Includes one data chart]

The FHA has consulted with the CFPB regarding the impact of faulty TILA disclosures, which could spell trouble for the industry.

PennyMac is once again stepping up to the NPL plate with some major deals. Meanwhile, cash-out refis continue to dwindle.

Residential mortgage production remained fairly strong in the second quarter thanks to an increase in retail-channel originations, which reached an all-time high of 64.6 percent in market share, according to a new analysis and ranking by Inside Mortgage Finance. The surge in retail production appears largely tied to ongoing strength in refinance activity. But lenders that are turning their attention to the purchase-mortgage market should consider that correspondents (34.8 percent) and brokers (22.0 percent) had higher concentrations of purchase loans than retail producers (19.3 percent) during the second quarter, based on Fannie/Freddie activity. Wells Fargo, as usual, continued...[Includes five data charts]

Michael Chan, vice president of ComplianceEase, has come up with a check-list that should be part of every lender's due diligence effort.

FBR notes that a key provision in the draft QRM rule is that any mortgage securitized by Fannie or Freddie is automatically a QRM.

Cole Taylor Mortgage is talking to several semi-finalists that want to buy the company. Meanwhile, it's business as usual at the bank-owned lender.