Fannie Outperforming Freddie by a Long Shot
For five consecutive months now, Fannie Mae has managed to increase its secondary activity, contrasting last month's activity at rival Freddie Mac. Annual business, however, was lower at both firms. Fannie's residential delinquency didn't increase a single time last year, while late payments at Freddie have deteriorated each of the last several months.

Outlook Improves for Nontraditional Loans
While lending officers at financial institutions reported little change in how well they expect prime mortgages and home-equity lines to perform this year, expectations improved significantly for nontraditional loan quality. On the commercial side, mortgage terms eased for the first time in several years.

Generating and Managing Mortgage Leads
In addition to residential mortgage leads, loan originators now have access to leads for commercial mortgages, loan modifications and the federal refinance program. One lead generation firm recently started offering exclusive leads and a lead-scoring engine, while another is guaranteeing quoted rates for prospective borrowers. Two other lead firms recently merged.

Flagstar Reports Strong Originations
Unlike many of its competitors, Flagstar Bancorp Inc. was able to increase residential loan production from a year earlier. The company grew its servicing portfolio while selling off branches and cutting staff.

4 Months of Higher Delinquency at Freddie
New secondary business was down Freddie Mac as residential delinquency was higher for the fourth consecutive month. Past-due payments on multifamily loans, however, were better.

Multifamily Issuance Leaps at Fannie
The annual issuance of mortgage-backed securities backed by apartment loans and guaranteed by the Federal National Mortgage Association shot up 45 percent last year.

Regions Residential Originations Better, Delinquency Worse
Home-loan fundings improved from the prior quarter at Regions Financial Corp., though there was deterioration in residential delinquency. But late payments on commercial mortgages have shown improved performance. Regions has been scaling back its staffing and assets.

Ginnie Business Slows
Mortgage securitizations by Ginnie Mae issuers slipped from the prior month and have fallen by 18 percent over the past year. Securitization activity for apartment loans is holding up relatively well.

CMBS Delinquency Up Despite Hotel, Multifamily Improvement
The delinquency rate on securitized hotel loans was down 58 basis points, and the rate on securitized apartment building loans tumbled 43 BPS. But deterioration in other types of securitized commercial mortgages helped push the overall rate higher.