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]

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...

"Wellington's going to do what Wellington's going to do," said one observer of the stock sale.

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

Roughly 25 percent of lenders said they hope to enter the home equity lending market over the next 12 months.

CitiMortgage performed the worst on the assessment of non-agency HAMP activity for the second quarter of 2014, with the Treasury claiming that the servicer needs to make substantial improvements.

One source said the $3 billion “traded a few weeks back,” but could offer no more color on the transaction.

One question we occasionally hear is this one: If the GOP this fall gains control of the Senate can’t they just push through a GSE reform bill and hope to override a presidential veto, if there is one?

The top contributor to the new Redwood jumbo MBS is First Republic Bank with an 18.2 percent market share.