Amazon Could Seize Opportunity in Fractured Mortgage Market

Inman, Mar. 12, 2018–Veronika BondarenkoE-commerce giant might be considering a move into lending, a huge departure from its business model that would require working through a lot of red tape.

CMBS Delinquency Rates Improve Except for Retail Property Loans

National Mortgage News, Mar. 12, 2018–Brad Finkelstein (subscription)With the exception of the troubled retail sector, delinquency rates across property types supporting commercial mortgage-backed securities were mostly flat to declining in February compared with January, Fitch Ratings said.

Mortgage Service Provider Hiring

Mortgage Daily, Mar. 12, 2018Based in Bethesda, Md., Oakleaf is preparing for an increase in business for loans that don’t meet Qualified Mortgage requirements.

More Mortgage LOs Leave Banks for Non-Banks

Mortgage Daily, Mar. 12, 2018As the number of residential loan originators grew last year, a bigger share of the group found themselves working at non-bank lenders for the second year in a row.

Senate Bill Would Diminish Mortgage Disclosures by Banks

Associated Press, Mar. 12, 2018Proponents of narrowing the scope of Home Mortgage Disclosure Act requirements say they unfairly affect smaller, rural banks that are trying to remain active in mortgage lending. There are a lot of banks that make a relatively small number of mortgage loans, said Michael Fratantoni, chief economist at the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Why HSBC is Getting Back into Mortgages

American Banker, Mar. 12, 2018–Laura Alix (subscription)You could be forgiven for wondering if this is a weird time for HSBC to get back into U.S. mortgage lending.

Blackstone REIT Triples Industrial Holdings With $1.8 Billion Deal

Bloomberg, Mar. 12, 2018–Noah BuhayarThe Canyon Industrial Portfolio includes 146 warehouses and distribution centers concentrated in and around Chicago, Dallas, Baltimore, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and South and Central Florida, according to a statement from Blackstone on Monday.

U.S. Inflation Expectations Rise: New York Fed Survey

Reuters, Mar. 12, 2018–Jonathan SpicerU.S. inflation expectations edged higher last month, with one measure hitting its highest level in a year, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey published Monday that adds to signs of price pressures.

Ocwen Acquiring PHH

Mortgage Daily, Feb. 27, 2018A deal has been reached for Ocwen Financial Corp. to acquire the parent of PHH Mortgage Corp. A news release late Tuesday from Ocwen indicated that it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire all outstanding shares of PHH Corp.