Acquisition Explorer News Today

When did “beauty parlors” become “beauty shops” become “salons” and “spas?” Our industry doesn’t have a monopoly on change, and in my recent travels around the nation visiting with residential lenders, things continue to evolve. Owners of servicing continue to release pools of mortgage servicing rights, raising cash to create profitable months and quarters. Banks, credit unions, and lenders mention ongoing efforts to “digitize...

As packages of mortgage servicing rights continue to hit the market, and some wonder at the high multiples, know that the percentage of borrowers current on their mortgage payments increased to almost 95 percent, 350 basis points higher than one year ago. Other stats show that foreclosure starts jumped in February. The MBA’s monthly Loan Monitoring Survey also revealed that the total number of loans now in forbearance decreased by 12 basis points to 1.18 percent of servicers’ por...

I flew into San Diego yesterday for the MCT Exchange, and it is hard not to notice the number of boats in the harbor. For some quick “fun with numbers” on recreational boating: The U.S. state of Florida has the highest number of registered recreational boating vessels in 2020, with almost 959 thousand, closely followed by California. Hawai’i has half as many as Wyoming. In contrast, the District of Columbia had the smallest number of registered boating vessels, with just ove...

"Sergeant, can we go for breakfast now?" "March first!" Welcome to March, with Mardi Gras beginning today, Daylight Savings Time on the 13th, Pi Day on 3.14, the Ides on the 15th, and St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th. (Nope, no paid days off.) Meanwhile, the world is watching Russia attack Ukraine and many are doing what they can. For example, broker dealer Jefferies will donate 100% of net global trading commissions on March 2nd for all trading in equitie...

Today is “National Pizza Day,” a made-up day that wasn’t around when Jimmy Carter was sworn in as president 45 years ago. Back then the yield on the risk-free 10-year T-note was 7.40 percent and 30-year mortgage rates were 8.75 percent. Rates have bumped lower since 1981, but for the first time since August 2019, the 10-year Treasury yield is nearing 2%, reaching 1.95 percent this week. President Carter had housing on his agenda, and after the presidency went on to do Habita...

As I head to Northern California, and mourning the loss of Meatloaf, I’m thinking, “Dang. I guess that I shouldn’t have put my entire 401(k) into Peloton stock a year ago,” a great combination of home exercise and technology. Brad Paisley sang, “…And I'd have given anything to have my own PacMan game at home. I used to have to get a ride down to the arcade, now I've got it on my phone.” Mortgage loan originators can’t do any...

Do you smoke weed? Have you been vaccinated against COVID? Too early in the workweek for those questions? (Is it okay to ask if someone’s been vaccinated against polio?) Some questions aren’t, can’t be, shouldn’t be, are too politically charged to be, asked. We don’t want to need a lawyer to have a conversation with a co-worker or underling. This one is a little easier: What percent of outstanding MBS (mortgage-backed securiti...