MBA increases odds of a recession within next 12 months; new tools to verify employment, income; downpayment size increases in 2024; new proposals from MISMO; lender raises funds; Cardinal offers processing for brokers; new hire at Nationwide Mortgage Bankers.

After achieving profitability in the third quarter, loanDepot returned to the red in the fourth quarter. And the CEO brought on to turn the nonbank’s fortunes around three years ago is departing, with company founder Anthony Hsieh taking a larger role.

With bids for MSRs remaining strong, Guild Mortgage sharply reduced the share of its mortgages originated with servicing retained in 2024.

For the full year, though, total bank repurchases declined to $1.02 billion, down 23.8% from 2023. (Includes data table.)

House Republicans are considering ways to relax certain state and local requirements to encourage the construction of more homes at a lower cost.

Faced with an average 14% increase in insurance premiums last year, homeowners are electing higher deductibles and switching providers to ease their financial burdens, while others are weighing moving.

For many years, when households couldn’t afford to pay all their bills, they prioritized their auto loan payments. But as home prices have soared, mortgage payments have taken precedence.

When Rocket’s acquisition of Redfin could pay off; PennyMac sponsoring Team USA at Olympics; TransUnion brings on verification tool from Truework; Eastside Distilling now Beeline Holdings, a mortgage company.

Homebuilders with lending units continue to prop up home sales by offering mortgage buydowns. The tactic cuts into homebuilders’ margins but many company officials prefer lower margins rather than unsold inventory.

It might be said that Mr. Cooper has timed the servicing market perfectly. While other shops grow tired of the vicissitudes of interest rates and MSR marks, Mr. Cooper has pounced, gobbling up portfolios that have only grown in value as rates stay stubbornly high.