Publicly traded nonbank mortgage lenders posted sharply lower profits in the second quarter as strong competition cut into margins. Two firms managed to increase mortgage-related income: homebuilders. (Includes data chart.)

Political power distorts how private capital is allocated, even among mortgage lending activities, according to a new study.

Mortgage earnings declined across a group of 24 banks in the second quarter of 2022 as rising interest rates continued to eat into originations and margins. The outlook for the third quarter isn’t great either. (Includes data chart.)

Mortgage originations down at big banks in second quarter; Better does worse in first quarter; loanDepot downsizing; foreclosure activity ramping up; MISMO remains busy.

Overall, banks saw a 24% decline in mortgage banking income in the first quarter of 2022. Many banks bucked the trend with large increases in income compared with the previous quarter. (Includes data chart.)

The rapid increase in interest rates seen in the first quarter took a big bite out of income from production and helped to goose servicing earnings. And while a downturn in originations was expected this year, it could be worse than expected.

Higher interest rates didn’t have much of an impact on home price appreciation in March; Freddie Mac launched new automated underwriting capabilities; Fitch shifts its outlook for ratings of Finance of America Companies to negative; MISMO remains busy.

Rising interest rates helped to push up income tied to mortgage servicing rights more than they reduced income from originations among a group of publicly-traded nonbanks. Results varied to some extent, with one large mortgage company even taking a loss in the quarter. (Includes data chart.)

If projections by the MBA are correct, interest rates for mortgages are levelling off, which should relieve some of the pressure lenders are facing on originations and profit margins.

Mortgage earnings among a group of 22 banks declined by 12% on a sequential basis in the first quarter of 2022. The downward movement was anything but uniform, with some banks posting large swings up and down. The movements were largely driven by interest rate trends. (Includes data chart.)