Short Takes: Refi Applications Jump / Flood-Zone Awareness / loanDepot Automates Underwriting / Arlington Asset Investment Merger December 13, 2023 Brandon Ivey Refi applications increased by nearly 20% in a week as interest rates declined.Read More
Short Takes: Texas Mortgage M&A? / Warehouse Advice: Be Honest / More Job Cuts / MSR Auctions / Blend Reduces Debt December 11, 2023 Paul Muolo and Brandon Ivey Mortgage banking firms handed pink slips to 2,700 full-timers in October while brokerage shops cut 800...Read More
Short Takes: Application Trends / Lumber Costs and Buydowns / Discounted Rates at KeyBank / PennyMac’s Debt Issuance / REIT Merger Finalized December 6, 2023 Brandon Ivey and Paul Muolo Refi applications are up on an annual basis while purchase-mortgage demand lags.Read More
Short Takes: Another New Nonbank HEL / More MSR Offerings / To Catch a Falling Knife / Update on Mr. Cooper’s Cyberbreach Problem December 4, 2023 Paul Muolo PennyMac Financial launched a new fixed-rate home equity product...Read More
Short Takes: Improving Outlook for Private MIs / PacWest Merges With Banc of California / Buyback on 1997 Mortgage / A Low for Home Sales December 1, 2023 Brandon Ivey and John Bancroft Fitch adjusted its outlook for the mortgage insurance industry from “deteriorating” to “neutral.”Read More
Phoenix Hits the Market With a $2B MSR Deal, More Transactions Expected November 27, 2023 Paul Muolo The homes backing the portfolio are located in Alabama, Georgia and Mississippi mostly.Read More
CMG of California Expands Further Into New England November 27, 2023 Paul Muolo CMG owner Chris George continues to find "bolt-ons" for his branch network...Read More
MSR Prices: Never This Good Again? November 20, 2023 Brandon Ivey The big concern: MSR packages could flood the market in the coming months as struggling lenders look for cash.Read More
MSR Sales Expected to Increase; Plenty of Buyers November 10, 2023 Brandon Ivey Lenders hurting for cash are expected to sell off MSRs and there are numerous buyers for the product.Read More
Short Takes: Rocket Looks to AI / Redfin’s Lending Slows / Velocity Increases Production / Great Ajax Considering Options November 3, 2023 Brandon Ivey and James Dohnert “I believe AI will be at the center of how clients buy, sell and finance homes,” said Varun Krishna, the new CEO of Rocket Companies.Read More