Across all LTV bands, the share of purchase loans with low FICO scores fell from 12.88% in the second quarter to 12.29% in the third.

Alex Pollock: Even if you allow the companies a credit of 2% interest on their over-payments, they would nevertheless be left with a principal debt exceeding $100 billion.

In a report released Friday morning, Cowen Washington Research Group analyst Jaret Seiberg noted that banking regulators have been using consent decrees for years. “Such orders also tend to include conduct restrictions on the banks,” he said…

Fun fact: Over the past five years, the nonbank share of the agency servicing market has almost doubled and now stands at 47.2%...

Believe it or not, the two mortgage giants are much closer to getting out from under the FHFA’s thumb than most observers expect…

One analyst who has written extensively on the recap-and-release topic estimates the advisory contract could be worth $20 million to $30 million...

Keep in mind that, Ginnie MBS is back-stopped by the full faith and credit of the U.S. government. By comparison, Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac MBS carry an “implied” guarantee.

“We’re trying to be holistic about this,” said FHFA Director Mark Calabria, “which obviously means it takes time.”

By now, everyone knows the Federal Housing Finance Agency plans to hire an investment banking firm to assist with recap and release plans, but what about the GSEs?

The FHA program saw the slowest gain in FTHB business, up just 13.6% from the previous period…