First American Financial argues that title insurance is a negligible life-of-loan cost for homeowners and is not regressive.

The FHA Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund remained healthy despite the 30-basis-point cut in insurance premiums earlier this year.

The private MIs lost some market share to FHA and VA during the third quarter, but industry recorded a slight earnings boost. The inventory of PMI loans in default was up, as were claims paid. (Includes four data tables.)

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said debt for the flood insurance program is currently costing $309 million in semiannual interest payments, which could be utilized on disaster operations.

The GSEs saw an uptick in uninsured mortgage business from the second to the third quarter, while FHA purchase and refi volume surged. (Includes three data tables.)

If the National Flood Insurance Program is allowed to lapse mid-November, the impact could extend beyond single-family lending, the Congressional Research Service has warned.

The new proposed capital requirements could reduce LMI lending by large banks and make warehouse financing expensive for nonbanks.

FHA gained share in the primary MI market during the second quarter, although private MI remained the dominant form of credit coverage. Enact MI maintained a narrow lead in year-to-date new insurance written. (Includes four data charts.)

In the purchase loans securitized by the agencies in the second quarter, the biggest gain was in GSE loans with no primary MI coverage. (Includes three data charts.)

Both purchase-mortgage lending and refinancing were down substantially in the first quarter, but a number of lenders gained share — or even increased production volume — compared with the prior period. (Includes four data charts.)