At Santander Bank, commitments improved by 2.1 percent to $2.4 billion while outstandings jumped 33.3 percent to $1.6 billion.

Cash-flow underwriting for mortgages on investment properties also may present regulatory concerns…

“Are there bargain hunters out there?” asked one servicing executive. “To some extent, yes.”

It’s not clear how many of the consumers with unauthorized accounts had mortgages with Wells, though the megabank and its peers have put an emphasis on cross-selling financial products to jumbo customers.

Despite shying away from FHA production, Wells Fargo remained a top Ginnie issuer, closing August with $3.83 billion and ranking third overall.

The GSE conundrum in perspective: "The mortgage finance system is working so consumers are somnambulant; media occasionally write about it, but don’t get fired up; courts don’t seem to be upset over unprecedented Treasury bullying and revenue abuse..."

Meanwhile, while the jumbo securitization rate during the quarter was a paltry 0.8 percent…

Meanwhile, many mortgage companies that specialize in production are posting strong profits…

Another reason for the cut in fees: rural housing delinquencies and foreclosures are at record lows.

Angel Oak also has a much smaller division, Angel Oak Prime Bridge, that originates nonprime mortgages for investment properties.