Home prices remain below their peak levels and mortgage interest rates are well below where they were prior to the financial crisis. However, mortgage originations since 2008 have been significantly below the levels seen in years prior as tight underwriting standards have limited production. “Home prices are still very affordable by historical standards, despite increases over the last three years,” the Urban Institute’s Housing Finance Policy Center noted in a recent report. “Even if interest rates rose to 6.00 percent, affordability would be at the long term historical average.” Black Knight Financial Services added...

Potential homeowners may be talking themselves out of the American dream, according to several recent surveys that show consumers underestimate their ability to get a mortgage. A Genworth survey of more than 100 lending executives found that 66 percent said eligible borrowers mistakenly think they don’t qualify for a mortgage. In a similar survey on consumer’s views on homeownership, Wells Fargo reported...

“The Greek crisis already has taken a toll on MBS and still poses a sizeable risk to performance,” according to a new report from Deutsche Bank Securities.

Mortgage repurchase volume fell 9.5 percent from the fourth quarter and it was down 12.3 percent from the first three months of last year.

Dave Stevens, president of the Mortgage Bankers Association, said he doesn’t know which way the FHFA will decide on the topic...

CSS identified the trade group advisors by organization, but not by their individual names.

The highest reading of the year came in January, $245.9 billion, a time when interest rates were still declining.

The rise in retail market share likely reflects the fact that smaller lenders, which are more likely to do retail lending exclusively, account for a growing share of GSE business.

The jumbo MBS rated by Fitch since 2010 haven’t experienced any losses.

Is the mortgage IPO market dead? Yes, says consultant Joe Garrett...