Roughly 60 percent of the nonbank's fourth quarter originations came through the consumer-direct channel.

"Assuming we achieve our cost, volume and other business objectives, and the market unfolds as forecast, we expect core earnings before notable items to be breakeven to modestly profitable for 2016," said CEO Glen Messina.

Originators that fund billions of dollars each quarter use futures and options to hedge their pipelines. It’s the smaller players that may have encountered secondary-market charges.

Suddenly, mortgage firms left and right are buying back common stock in the open market...

Fairholme is feeling the heat from investors over poor performance, with Berkowitz noting the fund’s returns have “put us in the dog house.”

Meanwhile, Fairholme’s case against the government is still pending and Berkowitz said from a legal standpoint, “We’re getting closer to the finish line…”

Thanks to falling interest rates, some warehouse managers are starting to hear their telephones ring with requests for new credit.

Compared to an estimate released at its annual convention in October, the trade group's production forecast is up 12.3 percent.

Baldwin noted that experienced mortgage bankers have grown to expect seasonality, but that doesn’t mean they have to like it…

A handful of firms broker TRID scratch and dent loans, including Rincon Mortgage Trading, Mortgage Delivery Specialists and Spurs Capital.