A number of factors – including misconceptions – are preventing some potential homebuyers from pursuing purchase mortgages, according to the National Association of Realtors. The trade group said it has found “real and imaginary barriers holding back prospective homebuyers.” The so-called imaginary barriers involve potential borrowers’ perceptions about downpayment requirements. “Apparent confusion about downpayment requirements may be...

CMG Mortgage founder and CEO Chris George said that when it comes to hiring he's mostly in a "holding pattern" right now, with exceptions...

HUD officials said the agency has been focused on establishing an infrastructure to improve its cost estimating practices.

Banks continue to pull away from directly funding FHA loans in the retail channel, citing the potential legal liability…

With its consent order in the rear-view, look for Flagstar to do more deals, industry advisors told IMFnews...

Dave Akre, who runs Whole Loan Capital, noted, “How can they stay in the mortgage origination business when servicing is a huge part of the borrower experience?”

PFSI is forecasting that by the second half of 2017 it will be originating $40 million to $60 million per quarter in multifamily loans.

Tom Hutchens of nonprime originator Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions said his shop presently employs 44 wholesale account executives and plans to hire 60 more over the next 18 months.

Jumbo production increased significantly for some lenders during the fourth quarter and declined for others, according to a preliminary analysis of jumbo originations. Among four banks that publicly disclose their jumbo volume, First Republic Bank and Flagstar Bancorp posted increases compared with both the third quarter of 2016 and the fourth quarter of 2015. BofI Holding and EverBank Financial reported declines in jumbo production. First Republic originated $3.06 billion of single-family ...

FHA single-family endorsements declined 5.5 percent from the third to the fourth quarter of 2016, losing some market share, while VA saw a modest uptick in guaranteed loans, thanks to robust refinancing activity. The FHA endorsed a total of $68.3 billion of forward mortgages during the fourth quarter, according to an Inside FHA/VA Lending analysis and ranking. That brought total production over a 12-month period to $255.6 billion (excluding Home Equity Conversion Mortgage loans), a 7.3 percent increase over 2015. FHA activity in the purchase market fell 13.6 percent in the fourth quarter though annual volume was up 14.3 percent from 2015. While FHA historically has been stronger in the purchase market, 2016 proved to be a more competitive year for FHA streamlined refinancing. FHA-to-FHA refinance endorsements rose 15.6 percent in the fourth quarter from the prior quarter, but ... [ 5 charts ]