The FHA and VA loan programs also get special treatment under the ability-to-repay rule…

Bank of America reported $1.04 billion in mortgage repurchases last year, or 45.3% of the industry’s total.

Two nonbanks that have been steady earners reported significant losses during the fourth quarter…

Mortgage repurchases by banks and thrifts fell to $2.29 billion in 2018, the lowest annual total since institutions began reporting this activity on quarterly call reports in 2007. It would have been a lot lower without Bank of America. [Includes one data chart]

There was nowhere to hide in the fourth quarter of 2018 as mortgage banking income fell sharply both in loan production and servicing, according to a new Inside Mortgage Trends analysis of earnings reports from publicly held companies. [Includes one data chart]

Several publicly held nonbank lenders took a beating on servicing hedges and other factors during the fourth quarter of 2018, according to a new Inside Mortgage Trends analysis of earnings reports. Seven public firms reported a combined loss of $120.53 million on mortgage banking activity during the fourth quarter. [Includes one data chart]

The Federal Reserve lost its top ranking among residential MBS investors during the fourth quarter of 2018, giving way to the commercial banking sector, according to a new In-side MBS & ABS analysis. [Includes three data charts.]

The Federal Reserve's MBS leakage began in 2017…

The only soft spot was in the servicing for non-agency mortgage-backed securities…

Much of the reduced refi business resulted from a 14.8% drop in cash-out transactions...