In the third quarter of 2013, the level of home-mortgage debt outstanding grew for the first time since early 2008 as the housing industry continued to climb out of the crater. The Federal Reserve this week announced there was $9.864 trillion of single-family mortgages outstanding at the end of September, a tiny 0.1 percent increase from the previous quarter. But after four and half years of decline, the gain seemed monumental. The central bank noted that all the increase was in first mortgages, while the supply of home-equity loans outstanding continued to shrink. Servicing attached to Ginnie Mae, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac programs continued...[Includes one data chart]

Senior lawmakers in the Senate said they remain “bullish” on moving legislation to the floor sooner rather than later in 2014.

Want to sell a large chunk of MSRs? If it's Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac product you'll have to run the deal past the FHFA.

In certain ways, HUD’s "qualified mortgage" definition is less restrictive than the CFPB edict, including setting no limit on a borrower’s debt-to-income ratio.

“The CFPB’s treatment of balloon loans was a step in the right direction, and demonstrated recognition of the unique nature of community banking and a different approach to regulating them,” the CSBS says in a new white paper.

Industry trade groups feared a 10 basis point increase in the g-fee from a budget deal.

A ton of new servicing deals have hit the market. But will regulatory scrutiny throw a monkey wrench into the transactions?

Investors hunger for yield. And what better place to get it than in the new breed of subprime mortgages.

Fitch says nonbank servicers resolve delinquencies at a significantly faster pace than banks, partly due to the loss-mitigation requirements for the five big banks included in the $25 billion national servicing settlement.

Treasury could withhold HAMP incentive payments to CitiMortgage, but noted that after considering all relevant factors, it has chosen not to at this time.