News

Mortgage origination volume continued to climb in 2012, according to data from Mortgage Daily's 2012 Mortgage Lender Ranking. According to data collected from surveys, earnings filings, and other public disclosures, loan volume across all lending firms grew 30 percent annually in 2012. In the fourth quarter alone, Mortgage Daily reports residential originations coming in around 3 percent above third-quarter volume. Year-over-year, Q4 saw mortgage production grow 17 percent.

Economic data for the week ending February 22--particularly for housing--was less than encouraging. A small increase in existing-home sales was the only bright spot, but that was weighed down by another drop in the median price of existing single-family homes to their lowest level in 10 months. The word "another" is critical because it means the drop in inventory in December did not result in higher prices. Indeed, the supply of homes for sale fell again in January, this time to the lowest level in 13 years.

Housing affordability rose close 1 percentage point up to 74.9 percent in the fourth quarter of 2012, according to the NAHB's Housing Opportunity Index.

Lender Processing Services, Inc. (LPS) introduced It's Listed! Alerts as a way to let servicers know when properties in their portfolios show up on MLS.

A three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit has affirmed, without hearing, an order dismissing claims against Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. (MERS), according to a release from MERSCORP Holdings.

Some recent RMBS transactions reviewed by Fitch have strayed away from guidelines designed to create sound assurances about origination and underwriting quality.

FHFA's inspector general says in a new report that the agency needs to provide better guidance for investigators examining the GSEs' multifamily loan portfolios.

Home values rose for the 15th consecutive month in January, according to Zillow's most recent Real Estate Market Reports.

The servicers involved in last year's settlement have provided assistance in the amount of $45.83 billion to 550,000 homeowners, according to the Office of Mortgage Settlement Oversight.

Both leading economic indicators and lagging economic indicators for the U.S. economy rose in January, according to the Conference Board.