Q2 2015 U.S. Banking Review: Mortgage Originations

Forbes, Aug. 28, 2015–Team, Trefis
The U.S. mortgage industry witnessed an exceptionally strong level of activity over the second quarter of the year, with data compiled by the Mortgage Bankers Association showing that $395 billion in mortgages were originated over the period.

Reminder: Private Mortgage Insurance Is Temporary

New York Times, Aug. 28, 2015–Prevost, Lisa
Home buyers who can’t put at least 20 percent down usually have to carry private mortgage insurance, often an expensive proposition. One good thing about mortgage insurance, though, is that it doesn’t last forever.

Judge Rules for Thornburg Mortgage in RBC Capital Suit

Wall Street Journal, Aug. 28, 2015–Fitzgerald, Patrick
A federal judge has awarded the court-appointed trustee overseeing the liquidation of Thornburg Mortgage Inc. $45 million in his crisis-era lawsuit against RBC Capital Markets LLC, finding the bank shortchanged the mortgage lender when it seized and subsequently sold some of its assets.

Mortgage Servicers Resume Securitizing Repayment Rights

Mortgage Servicing News, Aug. 28, 2015–Collomer, Nora
Residential mortgage servicers are once again tapping the securitization market to fund advances to bondholders for the first time since April 2014.

Fed Hawks Acknowledge Market Turmoil May Delay Rate Hike

Reuters, Aug. 28, 2015–Spicer, Jonathan; Schneider, Howard
Federal Reserve officials who are most anxious to hike interest rates said on Friday that continued turmoil in financial markets may cause the central bank to delay tightening monetary policy beyond next month, even though the U.S. economy remains strong.

Year After Housing Crisis, Mortgage Complaints Persist in N.C.

Charlotte Observer, Aug. 30, 2015–Roberts, Deon
Nine years after the start of the U.S. housing crisis, complaints about mortgage companies top the list of grievances North Carolina consumers are filing with a federal regulator.

Monday Morning Cup of Coffee: When Will Mortgage Lending Pick Up?

HousingWire, Aug. 31, 2015–Garrison, Trey
Chuck Gabriel hosted Mortgage Bankers Association President and CEO David Stevens on Capital Alpha’s regular Spotlight Call, and in the lengthy conversation Stevens expanded on a blog he wrote last week  where he seemed more open than at any time in the past to pulling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac out of conservatorship, while still maintaining their guarantee.

Mortgage Rates Tumble Following Stock Market Turbulence

Washington Post, Aug. 27, 2015–Orton, Kathy
Turmoil in the stock market drove mortgage rates lower this week, sending the 30-year fixed-rate average down to its lowest level in three months.

The Case for a September Rate Rise

Wall Street Journal, Aug. 27, 2015–Lahart, Justin
Market turmoil has cast doubt on the Fed’s September intentions. But a rate increase remains very much on the table. http://www.wsj.com/articles/the-case-for-a-september-fed-rate-rise-1440698537