FHA delinquency rates fell 26.4 basis points between December and January and were down 14.1 bps over an eight-month period ending January, according to the Inside FHA/VA Lending database. [Includes one data chart.]

Home Equity Conversion Mortgage production fell significantly in 2018, according to Inside FHA/VA Lending’s database. [Includes two data charts.]

Ginnie Mae saw a modest increase in issuance of single-family mortgage-backed securities in January, according to an Inside FHA/VA Lending analysis of MBS disclosures. [Includes one data chart.]

GDP Projection for 1Q19 Down by $8 Billion Due to Shutdown.

The U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California has approved a class-action settlement between borrowers and a large bank to resolve allegations of illegal and unfair collection of post-payment interest on FHA-insured mortgages.

Ginnie Mae approved far fewer issuers last year than in 2017, according to agency data. Only eight out of 28 applicants were approved to participate in its mortgage-backed securities program, as against 22 issuers in the previous year.

The merger of SunTrust Banks and BB&T Corp. will create a new entity that would have ranked among the top 20 Ginnie Mae issuers and servicers in 2018.

Home Equity Conversion Mortgage originations declined in December-January due in part to the recent government shutdown and an overall slowdown in HECM activity, according to an analysis by Situs, Inc.

Congress is reportedly considering a legislative proposal to charge higher guarantee fees for VA mortgages to cover healthcare costs of Korean and Vietnam War veterans who were ex-posed to herbicides, such as Agent Orange and other toxic agents.

A Wall Street lobbying group has urged the Department of Veteran Affairs to change its cash-out refinance interim final rule, calling par-ticular attention to the net tangible benefit provision.