Chase’s Mortgage Servicing Down, Assets Up

Mortgage Daily, July 14, 2017While there was little change in quarterly mortgage originations at JPMorgan Chase & Co., the residential servicing portfolio declined as mortgage assets grew.

Hurdles to Rebound Remain for Manhattan Commercial Real Estate Sales

Wall Street Journal, July 16, 2017–Keiko Morris (subscription)Investment in Manhattan commercial real estate increased between the first two quarters of this year but dropped dramatically from last year as forces threatening a rebound in the market remain, according to a report and data from real-estate services firm Avison Young.

Ditech to Close Dallas-Area Office as Retrenchment Plan Takes Shape

National Mortgage News, July 14, 2017–Brad Finkelstein, Austin Kilgore (subscription)Walter Investment Management Corp. will close its Ditech subsidiary’s Irving, Texas, office by the end of 2017, as the nonbank lender and servicer continues restructuring efforts amid mounting losses.

China Oceanwide’s Acquisition of U.S.-Based Genworth Hits Snag

Insurance Business America, July 14, 2017–Gabriel OlanoThe planned acquisition of U.S.-based insurer Genworth Financial by China Oceanwide is facing a regulatory obstacle that could likely delay the deal’s completion beyond its original target date.

Housing Stocks May Not Be on Terra Firma

Reuters, July 14, 2017–Sinead Carew, Rodrigo CamposInvestors may have overbuilt U.S. housing stocks as data has yet to match up with the homebuilder sector’s biggest rally in five years.

Mortgage Rates Soar to Highest Level Since Early May

Washington Post, July 13, 2017–Kathy Orton “Rates continued to increase last week given increasing evidence that the Fed and other central banks are more likely to raise rates given the pickup in economic growth in their respective economies,” said Michael Fratantoni, Mortgage Bankers Association chief economist.

U.S. Mortgage Quality Improves, But Foreclosures on the Rise

Reuters, July 13, 2017–Pete SchroederMore Americans were keeping up with their mortgages at the beginning of 2017 but the number of foreclosures is also on the rise, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency said.

Bayview Purchasing Pingora Loan Servicing Platform

National Mortgage News, July 13, 2017–Elina Tarkazikis (subscription)Bayview Asset Management has entered into an agreement to acquire Pingora Holdings, an indirect subsidiary of Annaly Capital Management.