Mortgage credit availability increased in October after falling to a six-year low in September, the the Mortgage Bankers Association reported this morning.

MISMO® appointed Seth Appleton as its new president. Appleton currently serves as Assistant Secretary of Policy Development and Research with HUD and as Principal Executive Vice President of Ginnie Mae. He will join MISMO on Dec. 1.

This major trend continues – banks and lenders sticking to their core competencies and seeking strategic vendor partners for the non-core – via technology and outsourcing. The low rate ‘feeding frenzy’ will come to an abrupt end, we just don’t know when. Still yet, we are starting to see financial institutions give more focus to the bottom line – cost cutting. Engaging third-party vendors is often a first consideration, reducing fixed costs.

Associations can play an outsized role when industries and societies are disrupted or experience significant shifts. Numerous events occurring in 2020 are textbook examples of these type of situations.

Is your company flying blind with incomplete or incomparable data to support key business decisions? Consider joining an elite group of 100+ lenders this spring that participate in the MBA and STRATMOR Peer Group Roundtables

The MBA Mortgage Action Alliance Post-Election Update, taking place Thursday, Nov. 19 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET, provides MAA members (and prospective MAA members) with a briefing on election results to date and the anticipated impacts on the industry.

Qualia, San Francisco, launched its Physical Document Service, enabling mortgage lenders to automate management of paper trailing documents from title partners through Qualia.

George Smith Partners, Los Angeles, arranged $50.8 million for mixed-use and multifamily assets in California.