The credit landscape is improving as more lenders introduce new credit-scoring mechanisms and eligibility requirements, but it may not mean much for mortgage origination volume, at least in the short term, according to a new study by mortgage consulting firm the Stratmor Group. The study noted that when faced with slower housing growth due to demographics, affordability, and higher healthcare costs, lenders will look to loosen underwriting standards to feed their production capacity. Rob Chrisman, senior advisor with Stratmor, said many of the “good borrowers” have refinanced and bought homes already, leaving lenders with borrowers of lesser credit quality. “Lenders and investors, too, are...

VantageScore is gaining traction as an alternative to FICO credit scores in consumer lending and structured finance, according to a study by DBRS. Introduced in 2006 as a joint venture among three national credit bureaus – TransUnion, Experian and Equifax – VantageScore was first used in securitization transactions backed by student-loan refinancings. Its transition to consumer loans and structured finance demonstrates industry acceptance as an alternative to the widely used FICO scores, DBRS pointed out. The study compares...

Among the top five retail lenders, Wells Fargo had the largest sequential decline in 1Q17, down 41.2 percent.

But keep in mind the 'new nonprime' is nothing like the toxic and predatory products of the last decade...

More first-lien mortgages are originated through retail lending operations than either of the other main production channels, but correspondents gained some ground during the first quarter. An exclusive Inside Mortgage Trends analysis of survey data shows that the market share for correspondents rose in all three major loan categories: conventional conforming, jumbo and government insured. Correspondents have their deepest penetration in ... [Includes two data charts]

Lenders cited various technology issues, costs and difficulties getting loan officers to change behavior as barriers to digitizing the mortgage process.

Agency MBS data suggest the purchase market hit its low spot in January and has been slowing building momentum ever since…

Larry Charbonneau, who conducts warehouse lending reviews for commercial banks, said usage rates are definitely improving this spring.

Roughly 10.8 percent of the mortgages were sourced through the Federal Home Loan Banks’ Mortgage Partnership Finance program.

In the first quarter, PennyMac ranked fourth among all home lenders, trailing Wells Fargo, Chase Home Finance and Quicken, according to a ranking from Inside Mortgage Finance.