The outstanding carrying value advances for the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks increased during 2012 as the demand for advances showed signs of regional stabilization and certain FHLBank members increased their use of advances, according to the recent annual report by the FHLBank Office of Finance.

Genworth moves closer to delinking from its mortgage insurance unit. Meanwhile, Wells Fargo has suffered the loss of a well-regarded regional rep.

Try as they might, the government cannot keep a good MI program down. FHA endorsements rose almost 19 percent in January.

Urban legend: mortgage lenders are beginning to loosen loan standards. Well, maybe only for "rich" clients.

The Mortgage Bankers Association and other industry trade groups are backing bipartisan legislation that would modify the definition of points and fees in the 'ability-to-repay' and QM rules.

Freddie Mac is still owed $1.2 billion from Lehman Brothers, which went bust five years ago. Also, Wells Fargo sells NPLs to Citigroup.

Roughly 9,000 HUD/FHA workers could lose pay under federal sequestration.

A new Supreme Court opinion may force the SEC to speed up its investigation of certain MBS fraud cases.

Is privately held nonbank Mortgage Master the Big Kahuna of residential lending in Massachusetts?

Fannie Mae is about to offer $250 million of nonperforming mortgages for sale in the secondary market.