Applications for purchase mortgages in early January were down 20% on an annual basis.

Wells Fargo reduced the employee count in its home lending division by 36% on an annual basis in 2023.

The new Ginnie product would relieve pressure for reverse mortgage lenders.

Laws in a number of states require mortgage servicers to make interest payments to borrowers on funds held in escrow. The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the matter in February, helping to clarify the OCC’s stance on federal preemption.

Industry participants and consumer advocates separately applauded the CFPB’s Section 1033 proposal on open banking. There were also plenty of suggestions for adjustments among the thousands of comment letters submitted.

The CFPB has a goal to close 65% of its enforcement investigations within two years of the start of an investigation. The agency has been nowhere near that goal in recent years.

The CFPB estimated that its proposal to establish oversight of payments providers would apply to 17 companies. Companies subject to the proposal are seeking exemptions while consumer advocates called for more expansive protections.

CFPB issues advisory opinions on background checks, credit file disclosures requested by consumers; banks critical of advisory opinion on information requests; banks look to slow overdraft rulemaking; new servicing requirements in California; Senate fails to override veto of bill that would halt Section 1071 data collection.

Delinquencies on loans in agency MBS increased across the board in the fourth quarter of 2023. The rate of performance deterioration quickened compared with trends earlier in the year. (Includes data table.)

While originations are expected to increase this year, margins might not improve much; First American back online following cyberattack; MSR demand expected to remain strong; held-to-maturity accounting lives on; new digital servicing platform; new buydown program.