Origination

Genworth's U.S. Mortgage Insurance (USMI) unit has been recognized by the National Association of Federal Credit Unions (NAFCU) for its efforts to educate companies on mortgage origination practices.

The originations market has been dominated by refinances for some time, but purchases are beginning to make a comeback, according to Ellie Mae's latest Origination Insight Report. Refinances made up just over half the market in June, with 51 percent of loan applicants seeking refinances. This is down from 58 percent in May and 54 percent in June of last year. Purchases closed one day faster than refinances in June (46 days compared to 47), though both categories took longer to close in June than they did in May, according to the report.

The First Title Radio Show debuted on May 31 and has aired seven episodes so far. In that time, host Doug Dennison--a radio, real estate, and government auction expert--has interviewed more than 15 real estate professionals, including representatives from Sperry Van Ness, Florida Keys Real Estate, Rowell Auctions, Inc., and the Five Star Institute.

As a Yale Athletics Corporate Partner, Total Mortgage is the official mortgage services provider for Yale Athletics and will have a presence in multiple platforms.

In Colorado, Allonhill added two managing directors to its sales roster as the company finds more opportunities for growth.

Bank of America reported a major boost in profits for the second quarter despite a drop in mortgage banking income. According to its quarterly earnings report, BofA pulled in approximately $4.0 billion in Q2, an increase of 63 percent over the $2.5 billion recorded for Q2 2012. On the origination side, the bank funded $26.8 billion in residential home loans and home equity loans, up 7 percent over the first quarter and 41 percent over the same quarter last year.

Mortgage applications fell another 2.6 percent (seasonally adjusted) for the week ending July 12, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) reported in its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey.

Despite soaring builder confidence, new housing permits and starts fell in June, with new construction falling to the lowest level in 10 months, the Census Bureau and HUD reported Wednesday. The seasonally adjusted annual rate of new housing permits tumbled 7.5 percent--the largest month-over-month decline since January 2011--while starts fell 9.9 percent, the second-largest drop since February 2011. Builders completed homes at an annual adjusted pace of 755,000 in June, 6.3 percent more than May.

The new home market in the Dallas-Fort Worth (DFW) Metroplex continued to see rapid growth in the second quarter, according to a report from Metrostudy, a Hanley Wood company.

Market participants reacting to speculation that the Federal Reserve may taper its bond purchases later this year should refrain from acting too hastily, Freddie Mac says in its U.S. Economic and Housing Market Outlook for July. According to Freddie Mac's metrics, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage has jumped a full percentage point since mid-May as "taper talk" rules the day. Rates are expected to gradually move higher, closing out 2013 in the range of 4.6 to 4.7 percent.