Fresh off of agreeing to buy California-based First Priority Financial, Caliber Home Loans is eyeing the purchase of other mortgage firms as well in an attempt to crack the top 10, according to industry advisors who have been tracking the firm. “Caliber is talking to a lot of people,” said Rick Roque, managing director of MiMutual Mortgage, Port Huron, MI. Roque declined to elaborate. One investment banker said...

But industry advisors fear the value of call centers can be quite volatile, depending on movements in interest rates.

With rates holding steady the past two weeks, more servicing auctions could come to market…

MorVest's David Fleig predicted that nonbanks – which have been gaining market share the past two years – eventually will move to convert some of their MSR assets into cash via bulk sales.

Will Caliber buy other companies as well?

Mortgage call-center platforms are in high demand these days, according to industry advisors, but there’s one key caveat for potential buyers: rising interest rates. “Who’s looking at buying call centers?” asked Paul Hindman, business development chief for Grid Financial Services. “Just about everyone.” It would appear...

One observer noted: “Talk about a government takeover! This feels third-world to me…”

goodmortgage.com will be operated as a division of FGMC and run as a “dba.”

Are P2P firms a fad?

Sometimes when a subservicer – especially a publicly traded one – snags a new client, the company publicizes the event...