A lot of the decline in servicing-for-others held by banks was attributable to Wells Fargo and other big players in the market. A number of mid-sized banks grew SFO in 3Q20. (Includes two data charts.)

The shift to lower-risk loans was particularly pronounced in the GSE refinance market, where streamlined property valuation was available for many mortgages. (Includes two data charts.)

Retail lending reigned supreme in the second quarter as lenders facing an onslaught of consumer demand focused on the most efficient and profitable production strategy. (Includes two data charts.)

Correspondent production accounted for just 25% of loans sold to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae during the second quarter, down from 37.0% in the previous period. (Includes two data charts.)

Only 9.2% of refi loans sold to Fannie and Freddie in the second quarter had credit scores below 700, the lowest such concentration on record. (Includes two data charts.)

The Golden State still ranked tops in most primary mortgage insurance categories during the second quarter, but Texas gained in many products. (Includes data chart.)

Bank home-mortgage repurchases totaled just $372.6 million in the first quarter of 2020, the second-lowest total on record. (Includes data chart.)

Retail platforms benefited the most from a huge increase in agency refinance business from the first to the second quarter. First-time buyers held on in a precarious housing market. (Includes two data charts.)

A smaller share of Fannie/Freddie purchase loans fell in the highest-risk category during the first quarter of 2020, although there was an upswing in higher-risk refinance loans. (Includes two data charts.)

The first-time homebuyer share of originations has held steady for years, though the borrowers’ characteristics are changing — many are getting older.