The Lede

The Mortgage Bankers Association last week submitted a comment letter to the Maryland Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, expressing concerns over a proposed rule that would impact several areas of mortgage industry supervision.

CoreLogic, Irvine, Calif., said mortgage loans originated in the fourth quarter are among the highest-quality home loans originated since 2001.

Composite consumer default rates rose in February, the S&P/Experian Consumer Credit Default Indices reported yesterday.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency yesterday delayed until second quarter 2019 for Release 2 of its Common Securitization Platform for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Black Knight Financial Services, Jacksonville, Fla., said mortgage servicing activity continued to improve in February, with declines in delinquencies, foreclosures and prepayment activity.

First American Financial Corp., Santa Ana, Calif., said increased shares of higher-risk purchase transactions and the potential for more adjustable-rate mortgages amid the expected strong spring market means mortgage lenders should remain watchful for defect and fraud risk.

The Mortgage Bankers Association released a new MBANow video on YouTube featuring MBA Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni, who discusses the upcoming MBA National Secondary Market Conference and Expo.

American Banker, Mar. 21, 2017--John Heltman (subscription)Banking regulators are calling for a raft of regulatory changes, including streamlining capital, reporting and appraisal rules in order to reduce compliance burden. The agencies detailed their recommendations Tuesday in a report under the Economic Growth and Regulatory Paperwork Reduction Act.

Wall Street Journal, Mar. 27, 2017--Liz Hoffman (subscription)The departure of Michelle Gill, who headed Goldman's mortgage-securitization business, is the end of an era of sorts.

HousingWire, Mar. 27, 2017--Ben LaneIt appears that Ocwen could be on the brink of returning to the mortgage servicing rights market full force, after the nonbank announced Monday that it reached a new agreement with the NYDFS, which paves the way for the complete removal of the MSR restrictions.

National Mortgage News, Mar. 27, 2017--Ian McKendry (subscription)House Republicans' failure to repeal the Affordable Care Act - an issue that has animated the party caucus since its passage in 2010 - has thrown into question their ability to enact regulatory relief.

GoRion, Mar. 24, 2017--Donna MitchellAs short-term rates increase, you could see the amount of private label securitization go up a fair amount, said MBA Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni, especially if most mortgage loans on bank balance sheets meet the qualified residential mortgage standards for exemption from the risk-retention rules.

National Mortgage Professional, Mar. 23, 2017Ocwen Financial Corp. announced the company increased the size of the board from eight to nine, and has appointed Robert J. Lipstein to the board to serve until the company's next annual shareholder meeting.

National Mortgage News, Mar. 23, 2017--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Freddie Mac will allow automated underwriting of borrowers who lack credit scores but have other financial records starting in June.

National Mortgage News, Mar. 23, 2017--Lew Sichelman (subscription)With the big drop-off in refinancing, lenders are beginning to realize there is a whole world of would-be borrowers who have been unable to find financing for their deals, business they can address to offset lost production.

HousingWire, Mar. 23, 2017--Brena SwansonUnder Dodd-Frank, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau must "use available evidence and data to assess all of its rules five years after they go into effect to ensure they are meeting the purposes and objectives of Dodd-Frank, and the specific goals of the subject rule."

National Mortgage News, Mar. 23, 2017--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Servicers are finding they can borrow more against their Ginnie Mae mortgage servicing rights this year, according to a recent report.

HousingWire, Mar. 22, 2017--Ben LaneLast year, the share of homes bought with cash fell to the lowest level since 2007, to 32.1 percent, said CoreLogic.

Mortgage Daily, Mar. 21, 2017It's been 16 years since the quality of residential loans originated has been as low as it was in the fourth quarter. But higher risk is likely ahead.

Reuters, Mar. 21, 2017--Jonathan StempelA federal judge on Tuesday said investors seeking to hold Deutsche Bank AG liable for causing $3.1 billion of losses by failing to properly monitor 10 trusts backed by toxic residential mortgages cannot pursue their claims as a group.

New York Times, Mar. 22, 2017--Editorial BoardThe Times' editorial board says the Trump Administration's efforts to fire Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Richard Cordray are "weak."

HousingWire, Mar. 21, 2017--Brena SwansonThe House Financial Services Committee's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations dubbed the hearing The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection's Unconstitutional Design. But instead of providing their expertise on the CFPB and its constitutionality, the four witnesses were tossed around between House Republicans who profusely thanked them for coming and House Democrats who condemned the hearing entirely.

National Mortgage News, Mar. 21, 2017--Ian McKendry (subscription)The Trump administration is developing a set of principles on how to reform the housing finance system that it hopes to release within a few months, said Mark Calabria, chief economist for Vice President Mike Pence.

CNN Money, Mar. 22, 2017--Chris IsidoreSears Holdings, the holding company for the two iconic retail brands--Sears and Kmart, warned investors late Tuesday that it can't promise it will stay in business.http://money.cnn.com/2017/03/22/news/companies/sears-kmart-future/index.html

CNBC, Mar. 22, 2017--Tim MullaneyGundlach, CEO of DoubleLine Capital, is betting that the best way to play the coming rate hikes is by holding lots of mortgages, which comprise nearly 60 percent of the holdings of his exchange-traded fund Ticker.

Mortgage Daily, Mar. 22, 2017Black Knight Financial Services reported for the third month in a row, the share of mortgages that were past due at least one month or in the foreclosure process has moved lower.