In quarters past, predictions of a boom in mortgage company sales have been premature. But what about now? And can sellers close by yearend?

Banks reported a 10% drop in retail originations through their mortgage banking operations in the second quarter. Loan sales also declined and likely continued to in the third quarter. (Includes two data charts.)

The debt issuance window is still open for certain well-heeled nonbank lender/servicers. As for everyone else...

LoanLogics analysts discuss the human/machine interface.

Incenter Appraisal Management launched a remote appraisal service, United Wholesale Mortgage is allowing brokers to bypass appraisal management companies and Fannie Mae is looking to reduce appraisal bias.

Layoffs in the mortgage industry? No, not yet. Actually, there were modest staff reductions in 2Q21 but most of the displaced landed quickly.

Nearly half of the executives surveyed by Fannie Mae expect profit margins to contract in the fourth quarter.

Lenders reported measurable declines in income from originations and secondary market as production volume fell and per-loan costs rose. MSR valuations hit servicing hard. (Includes data chart.)

Bank call-report data show a huge drop in mortgage banking income from the first to the second quarter, but several top banks reported big gains. (Includes data chart.)

When an industry thrives, its chief trade organization usually thrives as well. But not in FY20, when COVID-19 and accounting entries from the year before nicked MBA’s bottom line.