Real Estate Financing...

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The State of Our Industry....

My last blog, "Going Out of Business.....Everyday" raised some eyebrows and a slight bit of controversy.  In fact, I had a few Account Executives from a particular lender go to the trouble of emailing me and calling me in my office confronting me on accusations that I essentially passed here to the members of ActiveRain to drive home a point.  My senior partner in his ever endearing charm said, "If I was their boss I'd be jacked that they are wasting their time calling and emailing you on a blog you wrote and not out there getting business from brokers"  Hmmmm.  But that last blog did have a point and it wasn't to throw any company or firm under the bus.  That point simply was/is that for so long we've been used to investors buying so deep that now, especially for the newer gals and guys in the field of mortgage financing, the mood is about to change and to some extent it already has.  If you ask me, it is probably for the better.  Another tragedy of this changing mood, other than individuals out of jobs, is borrowers who were put into programs two years ago and their adjustable rates are coming up and those programs no longer exist.  But, that may be a different discussion at another time. 

I wanted to pass this website onto everyone here that is tracking the Mortgage Industry and wants to know the down low on who is still in, who is out, and a lot of other information that might make you work that much harder to ensure you and your firm survives.  Check it out, let me know what you think.  Knowledge is Power...

http://ml-implode.com/

The following website is not endorsed by yours truly, the late Gus Hall, First Choice Equity Group Inc, my unborn son, already embarrassed girlfriend,  or anyone I know off the top of my head. 

7 commentsJason Sardi, Mortgage Banker • February 21 2007 03:45PM

Going Out of Business......Everyday....

MORTGAGE INDUSTRY TID-BITS FOR 2006 - 2007

 

I got this information from a representative from one of our investors and found it very interesting.  I figured I'd pass it on.  Take heed folks, we are in line for a very, very, interesting year to come.

 

Time to Separate The Men From The Boys.

 

  Many of you understand by now - this ain't your father's mortgage business any longer!!   And if you have not been able to realize the incredible shift in this market, then you probably never will.  In case you have been asleep at the wheel... here are some news tid-bits    

E-loan announced it will close their subprime wholesale division

ResMAE listed for sale

Wachovia Corp.'s consolidation of its wholesale operations will result in layoffs

Fieldstone announced that it's closing 5 west coast branches including its Arizona operations.

Mortgage Lender Network (MLN) "stopped funding residential loans"

on 12/29 (they didn't actually say they were closing).

HMIC closed its doors on Dec 20.

As part of a $100 million cost reduction strategy, Sovereign Bancorp exited the wholesale mortgage market.

Own it Mortgage - closed its doors

Sebring Mortgage closed its doors

Axis Mortgage closed its doors

Oak Street Mortgage closed its doors

Right Away Mortgage closed its doors

Secured Funding closed its doors

Loans 123 - Not taking any more business

Aegis Funding (sub-prime) closed its doors (Aegis Wholesale (Conforming and Alt-A) and Home Equity are still open)

Option One - Up for Sale

Meritage Sold to Lime Financial

Mandalay - Closed its doors

Southstar - AE's leaving (a good source stating company cannot meet payroll obligations)

Accredited - OC Regional office production at its lowest levels, rumors they may close by 1st qtr.

Washington Mutual - Multiple Layoffs

Saxon - Layoffs

RFC - Layoffs

Decision One closed 6 regional centers.

Argent consolidated and let 1,000 people go.Currently for Sale

Ameriquest laid off 3,800 and shut 229 retail branches after announcing a $325 million settlement with state's attorneys general for overcharging borrowers.

Bank of American Mortgage laid off 225 locally.

Fieldstone Mortgage closed their Las Vegas branch.

Acoustic Home Loans closed its doors due to a sudden increase in repurchases.

WAMU exited their correspondent business

49 commentsJason Sardi, Mortgage Banker • February 07 2007 11:44PM