In 2013, Provident Funding Associates of California was the second largest originator of home mortgages through loan brokers, but it has fallen from that high perch in recent quarters. Moreover, there have been recent reports that the privately held nonbank may significantly trim the number of states where it’s willing to accept submissions from brokers. Wholesalers and brokers alike told Inside Mortgage Finance they have heard talk of a large-scale pullout by Provident in multiple states, but have seen nothing definitive. According to agency mortgage-backed securities data compiled by Inside Mortgage Finance, Provident was active with brokers doing business in 41 states over the first nine months of 2014. One broker trade group official, requesting anonymity, said...

PHH's servicing portfolio continues to shrink thanks to MSR sales and payoffs.

Securitization of rural development home loans during the first nine months was $14.19 billion, with the top three issuers accounting for 58 percent.

Two Harbors has plenty of capacity to hold non-agency loans in portfolio without reliance on outside financing.

Some 60.7 percent of the mortgages in the deal have interest-only features.

Hiring top performers can cost a company in terms of salary and bonus pay, but many believe such hires are worth it because such LOs bring in a ton of volume.

BB&T posted $80 million of mortgage banking net income in the third quarter, up sharply from a negative $21 million suffered in the previous quarter.

If housing markets are stronger than expected and rates stay low enough, originations could hit $1.421 trillion next year.

What? Are piggy-back mortgages making a comeback?

Mortgage industry economists agreed that 2014 loan origination volume would be down significantly from 2013, tapering off to another drop in new business in 2015. With a surprising increase in production during the third quarter and an early October bond market rally, the outlook for next year is less clear. Mike Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association, last week predicted that mortgage originations would grow by 7.4 percent next year ... [Includes one data chart]