15-year Vs. 30-year: TKO
With so many options available to finance a house, choosing the best one can be intimidating. One factor in that decision that can greatly alter the final costs of home ownership is the term of the loan. Most loans have terms of either 15 years or 30 years. This time frame is called the "life of the loan."

30-year Hits Record Low 5.31%, Could Head Higher
Mortgage interest rates this week are so low...come on, let's hear it: "How low are they?"

Acquisition of $5 bil Bank One Wholesale Operation to Double Production of Royal Bank of Canada Unit
RBC Mortgage Company will aquire Bank One's wholesale first mortgage and broker home-equity origination business, both companies announced today.

In Case You Didn't Understand...
Revised regulations will soon govern information-gathering by mortgage application takers. But, because applications taken under the old rules may meet their end under the revised rules, the Federal Reserve System this week published transition rules that will govern applications that straddle the changes.

Mortgage Broker Test, Home Equity Line-of-Credit on Texas Agenda
Changes are afoot in the Texas lending business.

Mortgage Insurance Deduction Cut From Final Tax-Cut Package
Congress was poised last week to give homeowners a break on a common mortgage fee. However, the final version of tax-cut legislation didn't include the measure, which would have eliminated income tax on mortgage insurance for many people.

Company Shut Down Because of Borrower Loans to President
Authorities in Maine shut down a mortgage lending outfit after its president allegedly misused application information.

Down and Down and Down They Go
Where They'll Stop -- Nobody Knows
As rates fall further into record territory, Americans continue to complete loan applications at a feverish pace.

Freddie Portfolio Down
A secondary market behemoth shrank again in April, according to the company's volume report.

Second Verse, Same as the First
Secondary-lending giant Fannie Mae fielded an opening salvo from a watchdog group this week.

ABN AMRO Stays Busy
Production numbers spiraled upward for one of the nation's largest lenders.

Broker Tells Tale of Terror
Finally, all the doughnuts have paid off. A real estate agent turns you on to a property investor that needs a loan officer to work with the many buyers for his properites. Years later, the U.S. government interupts your lunch and sends you to prison. This is the story of Jerome Mayne.

Running for Cover
The number of Americans seeking bankruptcy protection reached a new record, according to a report released last week.

FM Watts
Former Congressman to Raise Profile of Fannie/Freddie Critic
Former Oklahoma congressman J.C. Watts last week was named chairman of FM Watch, a policy/lobbying group that monitors the "mission creep" of Fannie and Freddie, strongly advocating that the government-sponsored enterprises stick to their traditional charter knitting of secondary market activities.

Rates do the 'Rock Lobster'
DOWN...Down...down...down
Mortgage interest rates slipped again this week, hitting new lows, according to Freddie Mac's weekly report.

MBA Bumps 2003 Production Forecast to Record Level
An industry report predicts mortgage loans will exceed $3 trillion this year.

Fannie Considering Tightening Term, LTV on Manufactured Homes
Fannie Mae's consideration of tightening lending practices for manufactured homes has raised concerns in Congress about decreased opportunities for home ownership.

Legislation Would Force Credit Score Availability
New federal legislation allowing consumers access to their credit scores is on its way to the house floor, according to William "Lacy" Clay Jr., D-Missouri.

Mortgage Fraud Suspect Previously in Prison for Securities Fraud
A previously incarcerated Lakewood Colorado mortgage broker is accused of committing more fraud.

Registered Users Jump 50% From January at MortgageDaily.com
Registration has surpassed the 15,000 mark at MortgageDaily.com.

Fannie Activity Climbs, Book of Business Nearing $2 Trillion
Loan business continued its steady climb for Fannie Mae, according to the company's latest production numbers.

Mortgage Brokers to Meet in Baltimore
Brokers will converge on Baltimore, Maryland, next month for socializing, education and entertainment.

And the Heavy Weighted Average Champion is...
Recent residential MBS ratings actions.

Record April Performance at Countrywide
Loan business continued its record-smashing levels for Countrywide, according to the company's April production report.

Hybrid Advantages
Some benefits to these ARMs -- Industry commentary by Dave Hershman

Another Wave?
Mortgage loan applications took a leap this past week and may be headed even higher.

ACORN Sets Sites on Wells Fargo
A consumer advocacy group started a campaign Monday against financing giant Wells Fargo.

Principal Production Falls
Mortgage loan production continued at a brisk pace but fell slightly from last quarter for Principal Financial Group, Inc., according to the company's latest earnings statement.

LendingTree to be Acquired by USA Interactive
LendingTree.com announced its forthcoming acquisition by Internet giant USA Interactive.

Mortgage Employment Edges Up
Mortgage industry numbers stayed level in April, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Battle Rages on Between Radian, ALTA
A new study claims the California economy would suffer if the state allowed an alternative product to replace title insurance in loan refinances.

Rates Linger at Low Levels
Mortgage interest rates managed to fall again, according to numbers released by Freddie Mac Thursday.

43% of Refi's are Cash-Out
Cash-outs regained a sliver of their shrinking share of the refinance business for Freddie Mac-owned loans this quarter, the company reported, coming in at 43 percent of all refinances.

Almost Decaffeinated
Interest expense for savings institutions in the west continued its downward slide in March, dropping about one-twentieth of a percentage point from February, according to industry statements.