Category Archives: HECM Originators

HECM endorsements dropped -13.7% in February to 3,381 loans after a truly impressive start to 2020.

The top 10 as a group did a bit better, dropping -11.9%, but as always some lenders had strong performances:

• Fairway jumped 61.3% to 150 loans, their highest showing in over a year
• Liberty grew 20.3% to finish with 794 loans and […]
  

HECM endorsements dropped again in December, finishing the year at 32,448 loans. That’s a decline of -22.2% from 2018, but that really does skew perception given that 2018 endorsements were inflated by 2017 fundings leaking into the first few months of 2018. Suffice to say that most everyone we’ve talked to in the industry lately […]

HECM endorsements dropped back -13.5% in November after a strong October, with Wholesale easing -4.5% while Retail suffered a bigger decline at -18.6%.

The top 10 as a group again slightly under-performed the industry (-13.8%) but some lenders had strong performances:

• Finance of America gained 16.6% to 387 loans, their highest total since July
• Sun American (page 4) […]
  

HECM endorsements grew 36% in October, powered by Retail rising 45% and Wholesale perking up 22.7%.

That’s the highest monthly total since February, and that was fueled more by a backlog of endorsement activity rather than the higher origination volumes driven by lower interest rates as is currently the case.

The top 10 as a group slightly […]

HECM endorsements dropped -15% in August, with Retail declining -16.7% and Wholesale only slightly better at -12.4%.

Most of the top 10 fared better than the industry, with 5 of the 9 (excluding Live Well) increasing on the month:

• High Tech put in its best showing since February, rising 171% to 76 loans after a dismal July
• Longbridge […]
  

HECM endorsements rose 8.2% in July, with Retail jumping 12.9% and Wholesale nudging 1.8% higher.

7 of the top 10 lenders gained on the month:

• Liberty grew 23% to 230 loans
• RMF increased 22.1% to 293 loans
• Synergy One gained 20.3% to finish with 178 loans

Special shout out to Advisors Mortgage Group that jumped all the way to #9 […]

HECM endorsements dropped -5.6% in June, as Retail sank -8.7% and Wholesale held steadier at -0.9%.

Just 3 of the top 10 lenders gained on the month:

• HighTech jumped 73.5% to 59 loans after a tough May
• Fairway gained 40% to 98 loans in their highest showing since February
• Finance of America Reverse grew 35.8% to 410 loans

Click the […]

HECM endorsements grew 12.7% in April, with strong Wholesale growth (+21.2%) outpacing slower Retail results (+6.6%) but both contributing to a solid month of volume.

Seven of the top 10 lenders gained on the month as they collectively outpaced the overall industry:

• Liberty jumped 66.4% to its highest level since March 2018
• Synergy One grew 19.7% on 164 […]
  

HECM endorsements declined in March without the tailwind from loans built up during the government shutdown. The decline was fairly balanced, with Retail dropping -36.1% while Wholesale shed -35.1%.

All of the top 10 lenders dropped, so let’s dig further to see smaller originators that overcame the industry decline:

• The Federal Savings Bank jumped 366.7% to 14 […]
  

HECM endorsements jumped 142.6% to 4,000 loans in February, as the backlog in endorsements from a partial government shutdown was completed.

• Retail grew 131.8% to 2,343 loans and 58.6% of the industry
• Wholesale increased 159.7% to 1,657 loans

Several lenders enjoyed banner performances:

• Finance of America soared 806% to 725 loans
• One Reverse leaped 376% to 352 loans
• Fairway grew 239% […]