The Federal Home Loan Bank’s Mortgage Partnership Finance (MPF) Program has removed certain barriers to streamline refinancing of government-backed mortgages. Effective on July 6, 2015, the MPF no longer requires minimum FICO score, maximum loan-to-value ratios or appraisals for FHA streamlined refis, VA Interest Rate Reduction Refinance loans and rural housing home loans with a U.S. Department of Agriculture guarantee. The MPF program’s participating financial institutions (PFIs) may now originate and underwrite streamline refis based solely on the requirements of the FHA, VA or the USDA’s Rural Housing Service. The program currently requires borrower and co-borrower income for government loan streamline refis for the purpose of loan presentment. “Presentment” refers to the right to require a lender to demand payment of amounts ...

Most mortgage origination indicators pointed higher. Notably, FHA endorsements were up an estimated 61.3 percent from the first quarter…

Another REIT ramping up advances is Two Harbors Investment Corp., which – like Redwood – is active in the jumbo MBS market.

In a statement, company CEO William Shepro said of new clients: “…our sales pipeline is strong and we are in varying stages of discussions with larger prospects.”

The trade group also is seeing an increase in mortgage "pull-through" rates.

A handful of nonbank lenders are stepping up to the plate, offering mortgages to borrowers who are just one day removed from a foreclosure or short sale. But there’s a catch: many of the lenders willing to extend such credit want at least 20 percent down. Also, as it turns out, the trend is being funded by commercial banks that are serving as the end investors in the product. Two banks – one in California and one in New York – were identified...

Some consultants and analysts would add Stonegate Mortgage to the list of negatives weighing on the mortgage equities market.

Through June 30, issuance of non-agency MBS backed by NPLs and RPLs equaled the volume that analysts at BAML had predicted for the entire year.

To date, RoundPoint has declined to discuss the sale process or much of anything else with the media.

Of course, just because some actors earn millions each year doesn’t mean they’re good at holding onto what they bring home...