Stearns, however, doesn’t service any mortgages for SoFi…

Morningstar said the company’s underwriting process, quality control and compliance functions were factors in the rankings…

The bright spot was the prime jumbo MBS market where some $2.97 billion of new bonds were issued during the third quarter…

Issuance of prime non-agency mortgage-backed securities increased by more than 50.0 percent from the second quarter to the third, while activity in the nonprime MBS market slowed, according to a new ranking and analysis by Inside Nonconforming Markets. Some $2.97 billion of prime non-agency MBS was issued in the third quarter, up 58.1 percent from the previous period. The deals were largely backed by jumbo mortgages, along with some loans ... [Includes one data chart]

Redwood Trust loosened its underwriting guidelines for jumbo mortgages in an effort to acquire loans beyond the typical standards set by big banks, according to officials at the real estate investment trust. “It’s meant to [address] the entire universe outside of the banks while still serving borrowers who we think are good candidates and will repay,” Christopher Abate, president of Redwood, said during an investor presentation in September. Redwood introduced its Choice expanded-prime ...

A proposal released last week by the Treasury Department could make issuing and investing in non-agency mortgage-backed securities more attractive for banks. The Treasury called for revisions to various regulations that apply to non-agency MBS in a broad report suggesting regulatory reforms for capital markets. “In its review of the securitization market, the Treasury found that regulatory bank capital requirements treat investment in non-agency securitized ...

Originations of jumbo mortgages increased by 16.3 percent in 2016 but the sector’s share of total originations declined somewhat from the previous year, according to a ranking and analysis by Inside Mortgage Finance of newly released Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. Some $340.88 billion of jumbos were originated in 2016, with banks dominating the ranks of the top lenders. Jumbos accounted for 17.5 percent of total originations last year, down from ... [Includes one data chart]

For originations of jumbo mortgages, it’s California and then everywhere else. The state accounted for 36.7 percent of jumbo lending in 2016, according to an analysis of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data by Inside Mortgage Finance. Some $124.95 billion in jumbos were originated in the Golden State last year, up 18.2 percent from 2015. New York ranked second with $22.72 billion, accounting for 6.7 percent of total jumbo originations during the year. Jumbos ... [Includes one data chart]

A number of Republicans raised concerns last week about the exemption from qualified mortgage standards currently provided to mortgages eligible for sale to the government-sponsored enterprises. Loans must meet a number of standards to receive QM protections, including having a debt-to-income ratio below 43 percent. However, under the ability-to-repay rule from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau that took effect in 2014, mortgages eligible for sale to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can receive QM status even if they have DTI ratios above 43 percent. The exemption is known as the “GSE patch.”

Ocwen Financial revealed last week that it won’t face enforcement actions from the Securities and Exchange Commission regarding two outstanding investigations. And the nonbank has reached settlements with a number of the state regulators that took actions against the company earlier this year. The SEC was conducting investigations involving Ocwen regarding the use of collection agents and fees and expenses related to liquidated loans and real estate-owned ...