Mortgage originations for black and Hispanic borrowers rose significantly faster in 2016 than among whites, according to a new Inside Mortgage Finance analysis of recently-released Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data. The HMDA report reveals that a total of $1.956 trillion of home loans were originated last year, an 18.5 percent increase over the 2015 total. Most observers believe that HMDA undercounts total mortgage originations by about 5 percent ... [Includes one data chart]

Ocwen Financial has now buried the hatchet with a total of 15 states over alleged deficiencies in its compliance with laws and regulations relating to the company’s servicing and lending activities. Back in April, mortgage and banking regulators from 30 states and the District of Columbia and the state attorneys general of Florida and Massachusetts brought regulatory action against the nonbank servicer. This week, Ocwen settled with New Mexico, Virginia and West Virginia ...

“Those on the left side of the political spectrum are more likely to know what the CFPB is and have a positive opinion of it,” said Cato’s Emily Ekins.

Ocwen suggests that other mortgage firms are being investigated by the SEC for their use of collection agents...

NAHB's Jerry Howard said a doubling of standard deductions – if it becomes law – could prove to be a powerful financial tool for home buyers.

A handful of GSE watchers we spoke to believe that in time Watt will work out a compromise with Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on zero capital...

Meanwhile, FHFA Director Mel Watt called the new IG audit “seriously flawed…”

But that didn’t stop the conservative from the Lone Star state from offering up some critiques on the FHFA...

Still, the deal world grinds forward. “Ten days ago, sales were dead, but interest is picking up again,” said Mark Garland, president of MountainView Servicing Group…

In the interim, mortgage servicers must continue to pass on the principal and interest payments to the end bondholders.