Headlines

The Mortgage Bankers Association's (MBA) weekly applications index climbed a seasonally adjusted 14.2 percent on a weekly basis for the week ending January 16, the group said Wednesday. The increase, which followed a 49 percent jump the week prior, put applications at their highest level since June 2013.

Freddie Mac cited a number of positive opportunities for housing in 2015—but households and businesses should take advantage of them early, because some of them aren't expected to last.

RE/MAX reported Monday that home sales activity jumped 14.4 percent nationally month-over-month December, a sharp reversal from November's 22.5 percent drop. Compared to the same month in 2013, December sales were up 3.9 percent, making it one of only a handful of months in 2014 to see transactions improve on a yearly basis.

Altisource Portfolio Solution's executive team saw a new addition this week, with industry veteran John Vella stepping into the newly created role of chief revenue officer.

Choice Neighborhoods builds on the work of the Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative, a partnership formed in 2009 between HUD, the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Justice, and Treasury.

The closure, announced jointly by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and FDIC, comes after years of increased scrutiny from regulators. OCC first filed a consent order against the Crestview bank in 2010, demanding operational changes after it uncovered what the agency called "unsafe and unsound banking practices."

Credit Plus, a Maryland-based mortgage information provider, is now offering instant, electronic Verifications of Deposits and Assets (VODAs) through AccountChek.

In a conference call with investors, CFO Michelle Esterman said the layoffs reflect the company's need to realign its expenses as Ocwen Financial Corp.—Altisource's biggest customer since it spun off in 2009—faces roadblocks to its own growth.

New York-based investment bank Goldman Sachs reported a slight year-over-year decline in Q4 2014 net earnings, but for the whole year of 2014 the firm reported a slight uptick from 2013, according to the firm's Q4 and year-end earnings statement released on Friday.

Mortgage sales leader Chad Smith has joined loanDepot, taking charge as EVP of production in direct lending, the company announced.