Economists at Fannie Mae and the MBA differ on how low interest rates on mortgages will go next year. Fannie is also more optimistic about the outlook for unemployment.

After agreeing to unload its production unit to Union Home Mortgage, Sierra Pacific Mortgage is separately set to sell MSRs.

Hugh Frater, a former CEO of Fannie Mae, warned that merging the GSEs could reduce incentives for innovation and competition on pricing, among other issues.

Redfin cited four factors suppressing demand for home purchases: high home prices, elevated interest rates, limited inventory of homes for sale and economic uncertainty.

"Maybe certain things would be better with a quick email ... or a text," said Sasha Hewlett, an associate vice president of secondary and capital markets at the MBA.

A pending proposal from the CFPB aims to clarify obligations imposed by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.

Refi business could spike by upwards of 70% next year thanks to expectations for lower interest rates, according to economists at Fannie Mae.

Details from Fitch Ratings on earnings at CrossCountry were tied to ratings for a planned $600 million debt offering from the privately-held lender.

While interest rates declined again last week, mortgage applications didn't move much.

Compass and Anywhere Real Estate have separate mortgage joint ventures with Guaranteed Rate.