FHA lenders will soon be adjusting to changes aimed at improving and streamlining the agency’s annual recertification process. Effective in April, the FHA will implement a series of system enhancements, including replacing its Lender Assessment Sub-System (LASS) with the Lender Electronic Assessment Portal (LEAP), formerly known as “HUD/FHA Lender Approval Files.”

Approximately 48 percent of FHA loans that underwent post-endorsement review by the FHA in the third quarter of 2013 received an “unacceptable” rating – a commonly high percentage of deficient FHA-insured loans that lenders could lower through mitigation. The FHA reviewed 6,692 FHA-insured loans between July 1 and Sept. 30, 70 percent of which were home-purchase loans, 25 percent streamline refinancings, and 5 percent rate and term refis. Of the total loans analyzed, 36 percent had certain deficiencies, 19 percent showed early payment default (EPD), and only 16 percent met FHA underwriting standards, according to the agency’s latest report on loan-file review findings.

FHA and VA loans backing Ginnie Mae pools in 2013 showed an average mid-range FICO score of 693, lower debt-to-income ratio and an average loan size of $187,268, confirming strict underwriting in both government programs, according to an Inside FHA Lending analysis of Ginnie Mae loan-level disclosures. Issuers securitized $370.4 billion of mortgages with first payment date in 2013 through November. Loan characteristics exclude loans with no information reported.

While banks have put an emphasis on originating jumbo mortgages for portfolio, the uptick in total mortgages outstanding was largely driven by originations of agency mortgages.

A few months ago, sources close to the BofA case, said the FHFA was hoping for a settlement in the range of $13 billion.

In the latest year-end closeout of buyback deals before the ball drops on 2013, Flagstar Bancorp announced late Monday that it has entered into an agreement with Freddie Mac to “resolve substantially” claims that the bank sold faulty mortgage loans to the GSE between 2000 and 2008.

Two Harbors' recent move to gain access to the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines through an insurance affiliate “will add a dedicated funding source for Two Harbors, and while limitations and restrictions will apply, it should alleviate some market concern regarding the potential for declining liquidity in the repo market.”

Fannie Mae announced Monday morning it has reached a $591 million agreement with Wells Fargo to resolve repurchase requests on certain loans originated prior to 2009.

Year-over-year through October 2013, the CoreLogic House Price Index appreciated more than 12 percent nationwide, with prices nationally now 16 percent above the low in the fourth quarter 2011, according to CoreLogic’s December MarketPulse report released Monday.

Freddie Mac reported new buyback demands on $3.3 billion of mortgages during the third quarter, a stunning 31 percent increase from the previous period.