DoubleLine Capital has picked up a minority stake in OptionWide Financial, while MFA Financial has put its might behind five non-qualified-mortgage lenders.

The A-paper M&A market is in the doldrums. The reason: lenders are making money hand-over-fist and company owners are hanging on for one last shot at the refi rodeo.

For the second year in a row, first-time buyers accounted for over half of agency purchase-mortgage business. Despite a substantial dip in the fourth quarter, overall purchase originations in 2019 hit their highest level in more than a decade.

Low interest rates are great for lenders but servicers are having a tough time of it, especially shops looking to unload product. One dealmaker is advising clients to sell MSRs now before they “vaporize.”

2019 was a banner year for warehouse mortgage providers, thanks to strong nonbank originations in the primary market. And now it appears that 2020 could be even better.

If a Democrat wins the presidential race, industry analysts expect regulatory changes in the mortgage industry. If Trump is reelected, GSE reform efforts will continue to gather pace.

The future looks particularly bright these days for non-qualified-mortgage shops looking to sell or go public. One lender that can take down the for-sale sign is Citadel Servicing Corp.

Concerned about relaxed appraisal standards for mortgage originations, two senior members of the House Financial Services Committee want the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study.

Loan applications took a dive last week but for the most part lenders remain optimistic about the months ahead. Meanwhile, a fintech lender plans to buy a bank, an industry first.

Federal Reserve economists found that black and Hispanic borrowers ended up with mortgage rates 2 to 3 bps higher than those of white borrowers. But they also found that these minority borrowers paid fewer points, offsetting the difference in interest rates.