If you’re looking for signs of hope in a difficult mortgage market, a source of inspiration might be the debt values of certain lender/servicers.

Even though the mortgage market continued to struggle, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac generated healthy profits in the first quarter of 2023 thanks to their business models.

Freedom Mortgage more than doubled its production from the fourth quarter to the first. Mike Patterson, COO of the nonbank, said the growth was driven by attractive loan characteristics.

Lenders argue that dramatic price hikes by FICO have inflated their credit score costs by as much as 500% since 2022.

What’s a mortgage CEO worth in a dicey origination market? According to an early read of proxy filings, some chief executives received nice pay packages last year, while others saw reductions.

Per loan origination losses hit a 15-year high last year. But is the worst of it over? It depends on the shop.

A new California bill that seeks to regulate the use of automated decision tools is facing strong opposition from the Mortgage Bankers Association and other trade groups.

The top-line originations number held steady compared with the fourth quarter while movements in the mortgage market occurred beneath the surface. United Wholesale Mortgage regained its position as the largest lender in the first quarter.

Potential homebuyers are showing stronger demand for mortgages than they were a year ago, even though interest rates are higher now. Economists at Fannie Mae revised their projections for mortgage originations upward last week.

The current loss-mitigation waterfall has dramatically reduced foreclosure liquidations, suggesting lenders could make more loans to riskier borrowers without increasing expected losses.