National Mortgage News - August 2016

Mortgage portfolio retention strategies typically focus on proactively approaching borrowers who can benefit from refinancing. But companies are increasingly using enhanced analytics to further segment their customer base and identify borrowers on the cusp of buying a new home.

As the mortgage industry swings more toward purchase loans and away from refinancings, its risk from material misrepresentations increases.

In something of a cruel irony, homebuilders are finding constraints on construction financing easing, but little in the way of quality lots on which to put up their houses.

For the first time, Ginnie Mae has edged out Freddie Mac as the second largest securitization platform.

Freddie Mac is on track to issue mortgage-backed securities via a common securities platform by the end of this year, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency wants mortgage servicers reaching out to delinquent borrowers to be exempt from tough restrictions on robo-calling. But the idea is being panned by consumer groups, who say it would give a free pass to mortgage servicers that have a record of consumer-protection violations.

Optimal Blue will be acquired by private equity firm GTCR in a deal that makes Mortgagebot founder and tech veteran Scott Happ CEO of the Texas-based product and pricing engine software vendor.

Compliance and documentation technology provider Docutech has formed a partnership with San Francisco-based private equity firm Serent Capital.

Sales growth was the top reason lenders gave for investing in new technology, according to a new study from sales automation software firm Velocify.

The scheme is used by borrowers who don't have enough income to qualify for a regular mortgage, so they apply for a higher rate non-owner-occupied loan.

Ten banks have invested a total of $25 million in the fund, which buys up mortgage-backed securities tied to loans made for the development or rehabilitation of affordable single- and multi-family homes.

The decline in homeownership can be stopped, and even reversed, by taking action on credit access, better evangelizing for down payment programs and offering borrower counseling.

Mortgage professional hiring and new job appointments for the week ending July 15.

The mark of an excellent salesperson is the ability to progress even in challenging markets. Here's a look at the loan officers featured in the Top Producers Rankings who logged increases of more than 75% of their previous year's dollar volume of mortgage originations.