The U.S. Mortgage Insurers repeated its commitment for members to work with the Federal Housing Finance Agency to implement VantageScore 4.0. In an Aug. 27 blog post, the group said it welcomed FHFA Director Bill Pulte’s announcement permitting Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to accept loans using the VantageScore 4.0 algorithm and its members will […]
Mortgage insurers commit to using VantageScore 4.0 Read More »
Mortgage originations increased in the second quarter led by a boost in refinances, but the numbers show signs of the challenges the housing market still presents to lenders, according to new findings from Attom. Total origination volume between April and July clocked in at 1.76 million transactions, jumping 19.4% from the first quarter’s 1.47 million,
Refinances drive originations growth in Q2 Read More »
The Federal Housing Administration, which receives the largest share of mortgage applications among the government guarantors, is adopting the UAD 3.6 appraisal format going into place in the conforming market. The new UAD 3.6 Uniform Residential Appraisal Report is replacing traditional boilerplate forms which are currently being used, such as the Fannie Mae 1004. But
FHA adds momentum to new appraisal format’s use Read More »
Mortgage application volume declined for the second week in a row, as a small rise in rates put a damper on refinance activity, the Mortgage Bankers Association said. The Market Composite Index decreased by 1.4% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the period ended Aug. 15. The refinance component was down by 3%, although versus
Higher mortgage rates slow refi application volume Read More »
The oversight agency for two government-sponsored enterprises greenlighted plans for industry giant Rocket Cos. to buy megaservicer Mr. Cooper, but only under certain conditions. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s regulator will require the new combined company to have “appropriate financial and operating safeguards.” Their regulator specifically is requiring them to each maintain “strict counterparty risk
GSEs’ regulator allows Rocket-Mr. Cooper combo with caveats Read More »
President Trump’s attempt to fire Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook over mortgage fraud allegations has been called part of a larger crackdown, which suggests there could be value in looking at potential changes it points to for lenders. Housing regulator Bill Pulte has claimed alleged fraud findings like Cook’s are not political, in contrast to
Cook allegations suggests new mortgage fraud priorities Read More »
Chase Home Lending has resumed offering home equity lines of credit after a five-year absence from the product, the company announced. While parent JPMorgan Chase has participated in HELOC securitizations, it did not originate or service the loans. In April 2020, just as the pandemic entered full swing, Chase paused taking new applications for HELOCs
Chase formally reenters HELOC business after five years Read More »
A Massachusetts judge denied a home equity investment platform’s request to dismiss a state lawsuit filed against it in a case that could provide clues to how products from such companies might ultimately be defined. State Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell originally sued HEI platform Hometap in February, putting forth multiple claims, including allegations that
Judge denies motion to dismiss case against HEI platform Read More »
Mortgage spreads reached their narrowest point in three years on Aug. 22, but were still wider than their historic average, Redfin reported. The normal spread, which in this case measures the difference between the 30-year fixed rate mortgage and the 10-year Treasury yield, is in a range between 150 basis points and 200 basis points.
Mortgage-Treasury spread at narrowest point in three years Read More »
The latest mortgage interest rate drop didn’t change refinancing incentives in the conventional securitized market, but a subsequent decline could, a new FHN Financial report shows. Primary mortgage rates’ dropped roughly 20 basis points in the past month to around 6.6%. The largest range of loans bucketed together in the securitized market and exposed to
Why the next rate drop could unlock a $300B refi wave Read More »