Shortly before Congress left town for its annual summertime break, Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA, introduced S. 2641, legislation to amend the Truth in Lending Act to provide that residential mortgage loans held in portfolio would be deemed qualified mortgages for purposes of satisfying the requirements of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s ability-to-repay rule.

Mortgage origination fees and third-party fees increased in the past year, according to a new survey by Bankrate.

Essex Bank launched a wholesale group while Live Well Financial plans to hire more than 300 loan officers.

First Republic Bank and JPMorgan Chase were the top two contributors to the scant four jumbo MBS deals that hit the market during the second quarter.

The changes sought by the MBA would also allow mortgage loan officers at banks to more easily transition to working for nonbanks.

The unspoken factor affecting Ocwen's immediate future is Benjamin Lawsky and the New York Department of Financial Services.

Ocwen watchers have wondered when – or if – New York state will ever bring any formal charges against the company.

Some 4.1 percent of the mortgages to be included in the MBS missed their July payments, with most of the delinquencies due to transfers to Cenlar, according to the term sheet.

Hello, It's Me Again: Your foreclosure notice.

Jeff Mezger, president and CEO of KB Home, said the first-timer share of home purchases is rising due to increased employment, noting cities in Texas as an example.