Meanwhile, the private MIs reported just $1.24 billion of new HARP business for the fourth quarter.

John Bell, assistant director for loan policy at the VA Home Loan Guaranty Service, said VA streamline refinancings rose 18 percent year over year...

Issued in November of last year, the requirement was slated to apply to all HECM mortgages with case numbers issued on or after March 2, 2015.

After Freddie Mac makes its next dividend payment in March to the U.S. Treasury, the GSE will have returned $91.8 billion to the government versus financial assistance draws of $72.3 billion.

Manna from heaven? Roughly 87 percent of LOs expect residential production to exceed 2014’s volume…

Warehouse commitments written by commercial banks reached approximately $33 billion at yearend, according to figures compiled by Inside Mortgage Finance – one of the healthiest readings in several quarters and a sign that all is well in the originations market. The only thing bothering most warehouse managers is how long the good times can last. “There is...[Includes one data chart]

Production of loans with a Department of Veterans Affairs guaranty increased 44 percent in the fourth quarter of 2014 compared to the same period a year ago, thanks to strong refinance activity during the holidays, according to an agency spokesman. John Bell, assistant director for loan policy and valuation with the VA Home Loan Guaranty Service, said VA streamline refinance activity rose 18 percent year over year as more veterans took advantage of lower interest rates and lower downpayment in the fourth quarter. He said the VA is still in the process of collating data, declining to give further details. Nonetheless, VA production in the fourth quarter was fueled...

Freddie Mac actually increased its monthly volume by 7.3 percent from December levels, but Fannie Mae’s production fell 15.6 percent.

Analysts who follow the company are keenly aware that the Merrill contract accounts for 29 percent of PHH’s annual production.

Over the past few years there has been some debate about the role Fannie and Freddie play in the multifamily sector with GSE critics pushing for the two to scale back their involvement.