The drop in warehouse commitments mirrored, somewhat, the fall-off in residential originations, which declined almost 19 percent in the third quarter, according to figures compiled by Inside Mortgage Finance.

Warehouse commitments extended to nonbanks fell 16 percent on a sequential basis in the third quarter to roughly $20.5 billion, according to new figures compiled by Inside Mortgage Finance. Compared to the same period a year earlier, commitments tumbled even more: 20 percent. The drop in commitments mirrored, somewhat, the fall-off in residential originations, which declined almost 19 percent in the third quarter. However, commitments measure how much credit a warehouse lender is willing to provide – not how much it actually provides. Wells Fargo, the nation’s largest warehouse lender, had...[Includes one data chart]

Bargain hunters are beginning to eye the mortgage market, hoping to pick up franchises at a discount to prices paid in 2012 and earlier this year. But getting capital-rich companies to sell – even with refinance production dwindling – could prove to be a challenge. “We haven't seen any efforts to re-price transactions in process,” said Chuck Klein, managing partner of Mortgage Banking Solutions, Woodway, TX. “If volume and profits are falling below the budget and forecast on deals at the discussion level, then the seller must be able to present a reasonable explanation of how they are to achieve projections in their budget and growth.” Larry Charbonneau, who runs Charbonneau & Associates, another Texas-based consultancy, said...

Some warehouse lenders are offering significant concessions and price breaks to keep their nonbank customers happy.

The warehouse lending market continued to hum along in the second quarter, but executives in charge of extending credit to nonbank mortgage lenders are beginning to see certain warning signs, including lower profit margins. “Profits are definitely tightening,” said Chuck Mueller, president and CEO of Fidelity Bank, Edina, MN, a one-branch bank whose forte is warehouse lending. Some executives note...[Includes one data chart]

Nonbanks continue to request warehouse lines of credit but because of declining origination volumes, the thirst is easing somewhat.

According to industry sources, the FHA recently sent out administrative letters to a handful of residential lenders. Meanwhile, yet another new subprime originator has emerged.

Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase continue to post strong residential finance profits, but there is a growing worry that the "mortgage party" may be drawing to a close.

Reverse Mortgage Solutions, a HECM lender bought by Walter Investment Management Corp. last fall, has received a $100 million warehouse line of credit from Royal Bank of Scotland, according to a new filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The line is legally structured as a master repurchase agreement. However, it is also considered “uncommitted” and matures in February of 2014. RMS will use the money to fund new originations of HUD-backed home equity conversion mortgages. Several of the nation’s largest banks have exited the HECM space the past two years, including Wells Fargo and Bank of America. A handful of nonbanks have moved ...

Reverse Mortgage Solutions has tapped RBS for a large warehouse line of credit that matures next year.