Origination

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) announced it has finalized a rule adjusting the asset-size exemption threshold for banks, savings associations, and credit unions under Regulation C, which implements the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Based on the adjustments, institutions with assets of $42 million or less (as of the end of 2012) are exempt from collecting HMDA data in 2013. That exemption does not apply to data institutions are supposed to report for 2012.

After going into free-fall for much of 2012, fixed mortgage rates started off 2013 with very slight declines.

First-time claims for unemployment insurance rose 10,000 to 372,000 for the week ending December 29, the third-lowest level of the year, the Labor Department reported Thursday. Economists expected claims to increase to 363,000. The previous week's report was revised upward to 362,000 from the originally reported 350,000, an unusually large revision but reflective of intervening holidays, during which state processing offices were closed.

A survey of economists conducted by Pulsenomics and published by Zillow shows high hopes for home prices in 2013 and beyond.

Mortgage application activity turned in December to close the year on a positive note, according to data compiled by Capital Economics.

Congress approved the appointment of Carol Galante as assistant secretary for housing and commissioner of the Federal Housing Administration (FHA). The appointment was finalized Sunday with 69-24 vote from the Senate.

Private mortgage insurance activity dipped in November, according to the most recent data from Mortgage Insurance Companies of America (MICA).

California's Stearns Lending, Inc., is welcoming a new executive. The mortgage lender appointed James Hecht as EVP of strategic development. Hecht has more than 20 years' experience in mortgage banking sales and operations, having started as an intern and later a commissioned originator at MGIC.

In Michigan, Flagstar Bancorp, Inc. (FBC), and its subsidiary, Flagstar Bank (FSB) are starting the new year with an executive leadership shakeup. Recent changes included the promotion of Alessandro DiNello to president and chief administrative officer of FSB and Matthew Kerin to president of FSB's mortgage banking unit.

Negotiators in Washington face a dismal weekend leading up to -- and perhaps including -- New Year's Eve, made worse because they're trying to solve the wrong problem. They're wrangling over how to avoid the fiscal cliff when a series of laws aimed at or contributing to the nation's deficit are set to expire, complicated by Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner's pronouncement the nation is approaching its debt ceiling.