HARP volume fell a stunning 75.9 percent in 2014. So is it time to stick a fork in the program and call it a day?

Most mortgage lenders reported solid increases in refinance originations during the fourth quarter of 2014, but the faltering purchase-mortgage sector still accounted for most of their business. A new Inside Mortgage Finance ranking and analysis reveals that refinance originations increased by 16.9 percent from the third to the fourth quarter. Based on securitization figures from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae, refi activity rose by a more modest 14.0 percent, although these data trail the primary market by one or two months. Meanwhile, purchase-mortgage originations were...[Includes five data charts]

JPM's latest jumbo MBS has strong underwriting characteristics, including an average combined loan-to-value ratio of 66.5 percent...

At Impac, Mangiaracina will split his time between the nonbank’s headquarters in Irvine, CA, and New York where the company has just opened a new satellite office.

“If something goes wrong, Ocwen will be on the hook,” said this source. “But it’s really clean stuff.”

Although George Ellison’s salary was not disclosed in the press release announcing his employment with the company, a subsequent filing provided details: $450,000 per year, another $450,000 in incentive bonuses...

Ginnie is currently managing TBW’s FHA portfolio and hopes to sell its Ginnie servicing rights sometime this year.

Freddie had 4,957 full-time employees and 50 part-timers as of Feb. 5, down 2.1 percent compared to a year ago.

Pretium won pools one and two, which have a combined loan balance of $238.6 million.

Meanwhile, Ocwen watchers are scratching their heads over a fourth quarter goodwill charge that eventually could reach $420 million...