Short Takes: Neighborhood Watch Program Goes Down Without Explanation / Compass Point Repeats ‘Sell’ Rating on Walter / DeMarco Stresses Data Standardization / Houlihan Lokey Prepares IPO / Wolters Gets Ready for HMDA Changes / Carrington Hires PennyMac E August 13, 2015 George Brooks, Carisa Chappell, and Paul Muolo HUD's Neighborhood Watch system is down, but this cabinet level agency has no explanations for the press or publicRead More
Lenders Crank Out a Record $39.7 Billion of VA Mortgages in Fiscal 3Q August 13, 2015 John Bancroft, George Brooks, and Paul Muolo Some lenders, such as PennyMac, have promoted the no-downpayment feature in their media advertisements.Read More
Plenty of Nonperforming Mortgages are Being Securitized, Just Not Publicly August 12, 2015 Paul Muolo About three years ago, some investors – private equity firms and hedge funds in particular – started purchasing NPLs as a cheaper alternative to buying foreclosed homes.Read More
Wells Fargo Trims HELOC Minimum to $10,000 for Most States August 12, 2015 Paul Muolo A spokeswoman for Wells noted that loan volumes for closed-end seconds “was a small percentage of our business.” Read More
Thanks to China, Another Refi Wave May be Upon Us. Or Not. MSR Markdowns? August 12, 2015 Paul Muolo If rates continue to head south it could result in large hedging losses and markdowns on mortgage servicing rights.Read More
Short Takes: Subprime Lender Expands Into NC / Altisource Hopes to Repurchase Stock / Invitation Sells Homes in Bulk to… / New Applications Just About Flat / Wells’ Mortgage Chief Heid to Retire / Legal Costs for VA Foreclosures August 12, 2015 George Brooks and Paul Muolo This just in: Wells Fargo mortgage chief Mike Heid to step down...Read More
First Tennessee Shows Strong Growth in Warehouse Unit August 11, 2015 Paul Muolo First Tennessee has 172 warehouse customers, compared to 160 a year ago.Read More
Sale of RoundPoint to PIMCO Appears to be Dead – Again August 11, 2015 Paul Muolo Both parties, to date, have declined to discuss the situation.Read More
Short Takes: Blackstone Finally Admits, Yes We’ve Been Buying Some Mortgage Companies / Who is Brian Libman? / Cherry Hill Joins an FHLB / Sistar Mortgage is Hiring / MCT Lands CMG Official August 11, 2015 Paul Muolo The Blackstone Group has finally lifted the 'cone of silence' on its acquisition of mortgage lenders. But will it disclose origination figures?Read More
Walter Posts $38.1 Million Loss; Large Impairment Charge From Reverses August 10, 2015 Paul Muolo Walter, the parent of Green Tree Servicing, also marked up the fair value of its servicing portfolio by $59.3 million.Read More