SEC approves Better-Aurora merger; FICO increasing mortgage revenue as originations decline; Rithm to spin off most of its origination/servicing business; impact of revised capital requirements for large banks.

ICE and Black Knight plan to sell Black Knight’s pricing platform in order to win approval from the FTC of a planned merger. Affiliates of Constellation Software have agreed to acquire Optimal Blue.

Home prices expected to decline; FTC hearing on ICE/Black Knight delayed; legal services for AI usage; MISMO updates; accounting proposal on acquired assets.

Rocket, UWM offer low-downpayment products; CFPB finds sharp differences in loan pricing; servicing profits improve; timing for recession unclear; quantifying the refi boom; Freddie improves paystub analysis; Blend offers soft credit pulls; MISMO seeks comments on closing standards; Maxwell acquires capital markets provider; fractional homeownership.

Interplay between debt ceiling and mortgage interest rates; mortgage employment declines; rate locks down; Rithm considers spin-off; Planet Financial looking for lenders; new LO recruiting software; Blend’s market share grows; Black Knight’s margins; new appraisal marketplace; MISMO requests for comment.

Profitability outlook; Fitch downgrades Home Point’s corporate ratings; UWM aims to limit trigger leads; New American Funding looking for joint ventures; new initiatives at MISMO.

Sale chatter has been following Home Point and its MSRs for several months now but with no deal in hand. Still, a resolution could be moving closer.

The unsecured debt of several nonbanks continues to trade below par, but in general has held up fairly well. However, not for loanDepot.

Failed banks and interest rate risk; DOJ-Sterling Bank settlement; big banks boost First Republic; ICE to fight FTC over Black Knight deal; FHFA delays DTI fee; Guaranteed Rate offering fast approvals.

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.