Originations

Lenders have focused on front-end cost differences since key secondary market players opened up the option, but what happens when a problem emerges down the road is worth weighing too.

A likely recession will only further the six active players' conservatism in their capital strategies, Fitch Ratings said.

The deal would put housing data provided by the acquiring intelligence provider in front of lenders early in the mortgage borrowing process.

The cut reverts the mortgage insurance requirement to pre-financial crisis levels.

As one of the latest examples of consolidation in the industry, the acquisition is notable in that it aims to preserve the availability of lending resources for both parent companies' customers.

All six companies were profitable in the fourth quarter and the full year, but had far less new volume than in 2021.

The private mortgage insurer is purchasing Agents National and Boston National from Incenter, which itself is a unit of Finance of America.

Special purpose credit programs, down payment assistance and potential mortgage insurance premium cuts came into focus over the past year.

The change, effective Dec. 21, is being put into place two years after it was first proposed.

The new product will be based on a recent revision to the Department of Veterans Affairs' handbook for lenders, according to the company.