Applications stumbled in early February; rate locks increased in January; consulting firm opposes ICE’s planned acquisition of Black Knight; FHA ditches paper filing; Black Knight adds eNote and eVault tech.

The year just closed was a barn-burner for bulk auctions of servicing rights. As for 2023, sales could be brisk but pricing will likely disappoint.

It’s not easy making a living originating loans these days, especially for third-party lenders. The latest firm to exit TPO: Rushmore.

MBA punts on recession forecast; interest rates on mortgages expected to decline; Flagstar merger dragging on; homeowners want mortgage financing for energy improvements.

Maintaining contact with potential borrowers through Truebill could lower the lender’s cost to acquire consumers, according to Rocket Mortgage CEO Jay Farner.

Foreclosure starts increased in February; SEC to revamp cybersecurity reporting for public companies; Tradepost acquires GSF Mortgage as part of an expansion of Go Companies; Milo raises $17 million; MISMO to develop standards for eVaults.

Financial technology lender SoFi is set to acquire a bank; United Wholesale Mortgage will cover appraisal costs on purchase mortgages through the end of March; mortgage tech companies raise capital; CoreLogic offers new fraud-detection service; low-code marketplace launched.

Lenders and servicers don’t see much use in blockchain technology for now; Mat Ishbia abruptly terminated a stock offering involving United Wholesale Mortgage; federal banking regulators set computer-security disclosure requirements; nCino to acquire SimpleNexus.

ServiceMac is the second large subservicer to be sold to a title giant in less than three years. The reason: Title shops love fee-based businesses.

Local concentration of mortgage lending may not raise interest rates, but it does increase fees and points, especially for low-income and minority borrowers.