Feedback from mystery shoppers posing as would-be borrowers could help mortgage lenders meaningfully improve customer experience, according to Stratmor Group.

The data analytics firm said its web-based appraisal tool Validate will help streamline the valuation process by removing obstacles caused by traditional in-person appraisals.

Loans sales by banks and thrifts outpaced originations of mortgages marked for sale for the third consecutive year in 2022. The sales boom looks to be coming to an end as loans held for sale dwindle. (Includes two data charts.)

Sale chatter has been following Home Point and its MSRs for several months now but with no deal in hand. Still, a resolution could be moving closer.

Three regional banks failed recently due partly to interest-rate risk. To avoid the same fate, mortgage companies of all stripes are being pushed to give up some profits to manage interest-rate risk.

Firms are building artificial intelligence-based tools for application in various stages of the mortgage process. Compliance concerns abound.

Nonbanks are using short-term warehouse funding to their advantage, ramping up capacity when needed and quickly reducing intake when originations dip, an analysis of nonbanks’ financial statements shows.

Since its last long-term authorization expired in 2016, the National Flood Insurance Program has undergone several short-term extensions.

GSEs set to adopt new credit scores in late 2025; Rocket’s credit card; new president at MISMO.

Mortgage repurchases by banks declined by 27% during the fourth quarter. Reserves tied to repurchases increased, suggesting that mortgage buybacks could go back up in 2023. (Includes data chart.)