Is the stock of PHH Corp. so depressed that it's a screaming "buy"?

The OCC believes that HAMP loans perform better than proprietary mods because the program places an emphasis on reduced monthly payments, debt-to-income ratios and income verification. Servicers also receive incentive payments.

The supply of mortgage debt outstanding declined again during the first quarter of 2014, slipping to its lowest level in eight years, according to new Federal Reserve data. There was a total of $9.851 trillion of home mortgages outstanding as of the end of March, down 0.4 percent from the previous quarter. The mortgage servicing market has been in almost constant decline since midway through 2008, with a modest bump higher in the third quarter of last year after a relatively strong rally in housing activity. Even the agency mortgage servicing market lost...[Includes two data charts]

Although Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have, for years, had minimum capital requirements for mortgage companies that want to become seller/servicers, the Federal Housing Finance Agency and state regulators are now exploring codifying a capital minimum for nonbanks, according to industry officials and state regulators. During a webinar this week sponsored by Inside Mortgage Finance, participants highlighted the “hot topic” nature of capital requirements for nonbanks. John Prendergast, vice president of non-depository supervision for the Conference of State Bank Supervisors, indicated that capital requirements for nonbanks are more of a matter of when, not if. However, participants who have been tracking the matter caution...

“Rather than earning on the front end, they’re increasing margins on the secondary sale," said mortgage analyst Ken Richey.

Regulatory scrutiny of the servicing sector appears unlikely to decrease anytime soon as officials with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau along with state regulators note that regulation of servicing is a top priority. During a webinar this week hosted by Inside Mortgage Finance, Ann Thompson, a senior analyst in the CFPB’s Office of Supervision Policy, said the federal regulator conducts a risk-based analysis of issues affecting consumers. “Mortgage-related issues are presenting...

What does the future hold for the hedge fund-owned Prospect Mortgage?

The market for large "legacy" MSR deals appears to be ice cold. Then again, last week there were rumors that a $50 billion transaction might be in the works.

The FHFA will weigh the merits of taking legal action against vendors, but could take upwards of 12 months to make a final decision.

How much capital should nonbank mortgage servicers be required to have? The question is getting louder and louder.