Fitch Ratings updated its criteria for estimating losses on mortgages in non-agency mortgage-backed securities this week. The main change for jumbo MBS involves the treatment of retail originations by lenders that have not been reviewed by Fitch. Previously, retail originations from such lenders would not receive positive consideration in the calculation for the probability of default. The rating service will now apply the retail benefit to ... [Includes three briefs]

Over the winter, the VA program had quietly become a much more significant factor in the government-insured market...

Redwood executives said competition has cut into margins, prompting the reduction in its forecast.

The fastest-growing sectors of the mortgage market during the second quarter of 2015 were jumbo loans and government-insured production, according to a new Inside Mortgage Finance ranking and analysis. The conventional-conforming segment remains the biggest piece of the mortgage market, accounting for 52.8 percent of originations during the second quarter. Back in early 2013, when refinance activity accounted for three of every four new home loans, the conventional-conforming share was 68.1 percent. Lenders generated...[Includes two data charts]

Two Harbors is starting to offer “expanded credit” mortgages via its conduit, including allowing for lower credit scores and higher loan-to-value ratios.

Conforming-jumbos accounted for almost 10 percent of GSE business on single-unit properties in the first half of this year...

PIMCO stressed that the “Wells Notice” is neither a formal allegation of wrongdoing nor a finding that any law was violated.

Company CEO Dan Perl said the privately held nonbank has been receiving several applications for loan amounts ranging from $2.1 million to $2.7 million...

Clayton Holdings noted that 75.9 percent of the mortgages were originated via the retail channel with the balance coming through loan brokers.

According to one published report, Gov. Andrew Cuomo is considering John Coffey as the next superintendent for New York Department of Financial Services.