Roman Pino, a Greenacres drywall hanger, has become a source of trepidation for banks, according to the Palm Beach Post. The Florida Supreme Court will soon review a lawsuit by Pino that disputes whether a bank can avoid punishment for filing fraudulent documents via voluntary dismissal, a decision that could have serious implications for lenders. [more]

Mortgage applications increased 1.7 percent for the week ending May 4, according to weekly data released today by the Mortgage Bankers Associations, as more homeowners and home buyers dipped into the private mortgage market. Applications for mortgages for purchases ticked up 3.4 percent behind a 5.4 percent increase in activity in the so-called “conventional,” or non-government affiliated market. Similarly, even though activity in the government-backed refinance market has decreased 2.3 percent, overall refinances actually jumped 1.3 percent. [more]

Though its demise drew little attention because of the partisan year-end brawl over the payroll tax cut extension in Congress, a key mortgage financing benefit disappeared at the end of December: The ability of large numbers of homebuyers and owners to write off the premiums they pay for mortgage insurance.

The loss of that tax deduction — plus mandatory new fees imposed by Congress on all new conventional and Federal Housing Administration loans — could effectively ratchet up the costs of homeownership this year. [more]

U.S. mortgage applications decreased 3.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis between Dec. 16 and Dec. 30, according to weekly data from the Mortgage Bankers Association released today. Both refinances and purchases declined during the period, by 1.9 percent and 9.7 percent, respectively. Still, total mortgage loan application volume remained 39 percent higher in the final two weeks of 2011 than it did over the same period a year prior. [more]

U.S. mortgage applications fell for the third consecutive week, free-falling 11.7 percent on seasonally a adjusted basis for the week ending Nov. 25, according to weekly data from the Mortgage Bankers Association released today. Unadjusted, the index fell 39 percent compared to last week, largely because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

Mortgage applications for purchases fell 0.8 percent, on a seasonally adjusted basis, after reaching a seven-month peak last week at 8.6 percent — their highest levels in seven months — while refinancing applications decreased 15.3 percent from the prior week’s four-month low. – Adam Fusfeld [more]

More than 14 percent of loans in Florida were in foreclosure at the end of the third quarter, the highest rate in the United States, according to a report from the Mortgage Bankers Association. Just under 19 percent of those loans were “seriously delinquent,” that is, more than 90 days delinquent. The non-seasonally adjusted foreclosure inventory rate for all loans in America last quarter was 4.43 percent, which was unchanged from the previous quarter and four basis points higher than the third quarter of 2010. — Alexander Britell [more]

The delinquency rate for mortgage loans on one- to four-unit residential properties fell nationwide to 7.99 percent in the third quarter of 2011, according to data from the Mortgage Bankers Association, the lowest level recorded since the fourth quarter of 2008. But homeowners may not be out of the woods yet, said Michael Fratantoni, MBA’s vice president of research and economics, who suggested that the result may be skewed by foreclosure starts.

The third quarter’s seasonally adjusted rate of 7.99 percent is a decrease of 45 basis points from the second quarter of 2011, the data shows, and a decrease of 114 basis points from a year ago at the same time.

“While the delinquency picture changed for the better in the third quarter, the issues continue to vary by geography,” Fratantoni said. – Katherine Clarke [more]

After last week’s drop, U.S. mortgage applications increased 1.3 percent for the week ending Oct. 7, according to weekly data from the Mortgage Bankers Association released today, on a seasonally adjusted and unadjusted basis.

Refinancings, which are not seasonally adjusted, also increased 1.3 percent this week.

The refinance share of mortgage activity held steady at 79.1 percent, while the adjustable-rate mortgage share of activity fell to 6 percent from 6.4 percent the prior week.

For a change, mortgage rates increased slightly in the last week. – Adam Fusfeld [more]

After last week’s big 9.3 percent jump, nationwide mortgage applications fell to earth for the week ending Sept. 30, decreasing 4.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis, according to weekly data from the Mortgage Bankers Association released today.

Refinancings also decreased this week, falling 5.2 percent from the previous week, on an unadjusted basis. That index is not seasonally adjusted.

The refinance share of mortgage activity decreased to 79.1 percent of total applications from 79.7 percent the previous week. The adjustable-rate mortgage share of activity increased to 6.4 percent of total applications, from 6.1 percent the prior week. – Adam Fusfeld [more]

The level of commercial and multi-family mortgage debt that was outstanding grew by 0.1 percent in the second quarter of the year, marking the first quarter-over-quarter increase since the third quarter of 2009, according to a report by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

There was $2.4 trillion in combined outstanding commercial and multi-family mortgage debt outstanding in the second quarter, $3.5 billion more than in the first quarter. Multi-family increased by $3.9 billion or 0.5 percent to $802 billion.

“For the first time in a year-and-a-half, new commercial and multi-family mortgage originations outpaced the paying off and paying down of existing loans,” said Jamie Woodwell, MBA’s vice president of commercial real estate research. — Katherine Clarke [more]