Investment losses dented title insurance underwriters’ bottom lines in the first quarter of 2020. However, the refinance boom boosted their order volume.

Arch Capital announced loss estimates related to COVID-19. Meanwhile, S&P revised downward its outlook on five of the nation’s six private mortgage insurers.

According to independent mortgage bankers, aggregators are adding credit overlays and refusing to buy loans in response to post-closing forbearance risk.

In the coronavirus era, mortgage forbearance is the watchword. But just how many loans will go that route? Will Ginnie Mae get swamped?

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchased fewer loans with private MI coverage in the first quarter of 2020, although the market was up sharply from the same period last year. (Includes four data charts.)

As the economic crisis precipitated by the coronavirus heats up, residential lenders have tightened their underwriting guidelines.

Genworth will contribute $100 million to its private mortgage insurance unit in order to facilitate its acquisition by China Oceanwide.

It was mortgage market Armageddon this week, courtesy of the corona-virus. Lenders were knee-deep in refis but fears mounted regarding an expected spike in delinquencies and about nonbank liquidity. The feds issued a foreclosure moratorium on government and GSE loans.

Arch Mortgage Insurance retained its ranking as the top private MI in the business, but several of its competitors gained market share in 2019. (Includes two data charts.)

A tale of two MIs: Genworth and MGIC. Also: Mortgage monitoring in Puerto Rico.