Low volatility and actions by the Federal Reserve are expected to help maintain demand for MSRs. Supply will also be constrained, with lenders generating profits and large firms retaining their MSRs.

The U.S. Mortgage Insurers said FHA’s Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund is overdue for reforms, with the 2% capital ratio requirement not sufficient to meet the standards the GSEs and private insurers must satisfy.

The lock-in effect is expected to thaw and boost originations, but first-time homebuyers still look to be priced out of the market next year.

Declining interest rates lifted refi lending in the third quarter but couldn’t help the seasonal slowdown in purchase-mortgage originations. Nine months into the year, refi business was up nearly 50% on an annual basis. (Includes five data tables.)

Refi activity at United Wholesale Mortgage and Rocket Mortgage in the third quarter overshadowed any competing lenders.

FHFA Director Bill Pulte touted possibility of a 50-year fixed-rate mortgage. Also under consideration: transferable and portable mortgages.

Federal operations that were disrupted during the shutdown are expected to bounce back, helping lenders with loans stuck in their pipelines.

Lenders urged the regulator to spell out the GSEs’ conservatorship-era obligations that could apply even if Fannie and Freddie are released.

FICO is confident the mortgage market will continue to use its credit scores even as FHFA and credit bureaus push the adoption of VantageScore.

The fourth-largest credit bureau could help reduce the cost of credit report pulls for mortgage lenders.