Non-agency jumbo mortgage originations accounted for a historically high 19.4 percent of new lending during the first half of 2014, and the sector is steadily gaining ground, according to a new Inside Mortgage Finance analysis of big-ticket mortgage activity. During the second quarter of 2014, lenders originated an estimated $59.0 billion of mortgage loans that were too big to be financed through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac or the FHA. That was up 34.1 percent from the first quarter, a noticeably bigger increase than the 25.5 percent jump in total mortgage originations for the period. Compared to last year, jumbo lending was...[Includes three data charts]

The Federal Housing Finance Agency appears to be all alone – for now – in its effort to prevent nonbanks from gaining access to the Federal Home Loan Bank system by using a captive insurance affiliate. The proposal would also change FHLBank membership rules for depository institutions. But already the proposed ban – issued for a 60-day comment period early last week – is coming under heavy fire from different factions of the mortgage industry, including the Council of Federal Home Loan Banks, real estate investment trusts and private-equity firms that own REIT stock. David Jeffers, executive vice president for the Council, said “widespread calls” for the comment period to be extended are...

Altisource Portfolio Solutions has rolled out a new operating platform for brokers, table funders and third-party vendors.

Although the Federal Reserve has tapered its agency MBS purchases significantly, the central bank continued to grow its holdings during the second quarter.

Wells and JPMorgan Chase are no longer the dominant forces they once were in warehouse lending, ceding market share to more nimble bankers...

One observer familiar with Stegman’s remarks said, “I think it’s clear that he likes what Redwood is doing in the system.”

Sen. Richard Shelby, R-AL, agreed with Warren’s criticism of the government’s failure to prosecute individual bankers, but he faulted the Department of Justice, not financial regulators...

We understand that when stock analysts meet with Ocwen management, executives at the nonbank usually tell them to not even ask about the deal.

Bank of America was once again the buyback king at the midway point in 2014.

As reported by IMFnews, 18 current members are affected by the proposed ban on captives, seven of which are mortgage real estate investment trusts.