MGIC recently pointed to lenders using piggyback structures to avoid PMI as a potential headwind to future earnings...

When a nonbank unveils a nonconforming product that can’t be securitized the first question we ask is this: where will the loans ultimately reside?

Mortgage bankers saw improved profitability in both servicing and loan production during the second quarter of 2015, according to a new Inside Mortgage Trends analysis of earnings reports from major lenders. A group of 13 publicly traded companies reported a combined $2.10 billion of production-related income during the second quarter. That was up 9.9 percent from the previous period, and raised their combined production earnings for the first half of the year to $4.01 billion, a 54.7 percent increase over the same period in 2014. Although all 13 reported positive earnings on their origination and sales activity, many noted...[Includes one data table]

Nonbanks couldn’t keep pace with prominent banks in terms of mortgage earnings in the second quarter of 2015, according to a new analysis by Inside Mortgage Trends. A group of eight nonbanks had lower mortgage-related income in the second quarter of 2015 compared with the previous quarter, with large losses tied to servicing operations. PHH Mortgage was the main restraint on the group of nonbanks as the firm reported a $43.0 million loss from mortgage services in the second quarter of 2015 after $38.0 million in income the previous quarter. The loss for PHH included a $66.0 million loss in the servicing segment. The nonbank increased...[Includes one data table]

The sharp increase in purchase-mortgage lending during 2Q helped float the private MI boat higher.

Is the bulk MSR market in the doldrums?

Overall, delinquencies remained below levels seen a year ago...

Some lenders, such as PennyMac, have promoted the no-downpayment feature in their media advertisements.

Although PHH Corp. refuses to answer questions regarding a key private-label services contract to originate mortgage loans for Merrill Lynch, most analysts that follow the company believe the Wall Street giant will renew the agreement. To date, PHH will not say either way, but observers of the situation believe it’s more a technical matter than anything else. The general consensus is that Merrill has verbally agreed to renew, but hasn’t signed on the dotted line. On its recent earnings call, PHH management said...

The delinquency rate on mortgages rose in the second quarter of 2015, according to the Inside Mortgage Finance Large Servicer Delinquency Index. Overall, delinquencies remained below levels seen a year ago, though the Mortgage Bankers Association said FHA performance has declined. The delinquency rate on the IMF index was 5.85 percent at the end of the second quarter, up from 5.75 percent the previous quarter and down from 6.74 percent at the midway point in 2014. The share of mortgages severely delinquent as well as those in foreclosure declined compared with the first quarter of 2015, while the share of new delinquencies and loans 90-days past due increased. FHA mortgages accounted...[Includes one data table]