It was once thought that Basel III proposals capping the amount of mortgage servicing rights counting toward Tier 1 capital would force depositories to either sell MSRs or severely mark down the value of the asset. And although certain banks – including most of the largest – have indeed reduced the value of their MSRs, certain regionals still have sky-high ratios of servicing rights that are being counted toward this key measurement. According to new figures compiled by Sterne Agee, at least two depositories that rank among the top 25 residential servicers have Tier 1 capital measurements north of 25 percent: Flagstar Bank FSB at 55 percent and EverBank at 26 percent. The readings are as of year-end. The Basel III accords, which are on hold and have yet to be adopted, cap...

Mortgage lending firms that want to do business directly with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as approved seller/servicers are encouraged to apply with one or both of the government-sponsored enterprises but only if they are prepared to go the distance to demonstrate they are a good, risk-free fit for the agencies, GSE executives and experts noted during an Inside Mortgage Finance webinar last week. Would-be applicants should not confuse the agencies’ “somewhat conservative” posture under conservatorship for disinterest in taking on new seller/servicers, explained National Union Mortgage President and CEO Bill Cosgrove. “They are open for new business,” he told...

Republicans in Congress worry about the CFPB collecting too much data on consumers but are their concerns overblown?

Michael Lau, the man who helped Phoenix Capital corral Bank of America as a client, has purchased his own mortgage banking firm.

Stearns Lending, one of the fastest growing servicers in the U.S., has hired a new manager to help it with servicing acquisitions.

Although Flagstar earned money on its mortgage business in the first quarter, its gain-on-sale margin took a major hit.

Residential lenders can rest easy: the GSEs aren't about to hike their net worth minimums. Also: the CFPB shows some love to banks.

Vericrest Financial is said to be the winning bidder on a $16 billion package of mortgage servicing rights. However, the company would not comment.

Although Rep. Hensarling rebuffed Cordray, the CFPB chief delivered the agency’s semi-annual report to the Senate Banking Committee Tuesday morning.

Obtaining approvals to become a GSE seller/servicer can cost you, but think of the money you can make from owning servicing rights.