Skip to main content

MBA study on mortgage bankers finds production profits held steady in Q4 '09

NationalMortgageProfessional.com
Apr 04, 2010

Independent mortgage bankers and subsidiaries made an average profit of $890 on each loan they originated in the fourth quarter of 2009, down from $902 per loan in the third quarter of 2009, but up from $296 in the fourth quarter of 2008, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). "Production profits remained favorable in the fourth quarter because of strong servicing rights valuations and secondary marketing gains," said Marina Walsh, MBA's associate vice president of industry analysis. "However, provision expense for repurchase demands may weaken profitability in upcoming quarters. We saw the expense provision double to over six basis points from the fourth quarter of 2008." Among the principal findings of MBA's Quarterly Mortgage Bankers Performance Report are: ►76 percent of the firms in the study posted pre-tax net financial profits in the fourth quarter 2009, compared to 82 percent in the third quarter 2009. ►The average production volume for each firm was $216.5 million in the fourth quarter 2009, compared to $189.6 million in the third quarter 2009. ►The share of refinancings to total originations for this sample was relatively constant at 45 percent in the fourth quarter 2009, compared to 44 percent in the third quarter 2009. ►The average pull-through (the number of closings divided by the number of loan applications) was relatively constant at 73 percent in the fourth quarter 2009 from 72 percent in the third quarter 2009. ►The "net cost to originate" rose to $2,345 per loan in the fourth quarter 2009, from $1,950 per loan in the third quarter 2009. The "net cost to originate" includes all production operating expenses and commissions minus all fee income, but excludes secondary marketing gains, capitalized servicing, servicing released premiums and warehouse interest spread. ►Production operating expenses--commissions, compensation, occupancy and equipment, and other production expenses and corporate allocations--rose to $4,402 per loan in the fourth quarter 2009 compared to $4,376 per loan in the third quarter 2009. ►Net warehousing income, which represents the net interest spread between the mortgage rate on a loan and the interest paid on a warehouse line of credit, was almost constant at 6.26 basis points in the fourth quarter 2009, compared to 6.67 basis points in the third quarter 2009. MBA's Quarterly Mortgage Bankers Performance Report offers a variety of performance measures on the mortgage banking industry and is intended as a financial and operational benchmark for independent mortgage companies, bank subsidiaries and other non-depository institutions. Seventy-two percent of the 285 companies that reported production data for this report were independent companies. For more information, visit www.mortgagebankers.org.  
Published
Apr 04, 2010
Rocket Launches Visa Signature Card

Rocket says its first-of-its kind credit card will help clients save on home purchases and homeowners pay off mortgages.

Guild Mortgage Acquires Cherry Creek Mortgage

Terms of purchase not disclosed; reverse mortgage volume added to Guild.

Mar 14, 2023
Vigilance, Dedication, And Commitment Forge Legends

Submit a nomination for Mortgage Banker Magazine’s Legends of Lending.

Mar 10, 2023
FTC Moves To Block Black Knight, ICE Merger

Says it 'would drive up costs, reduce innovation, and reduce lenders’ choices.'

Mar 09, 2023
Rocket Arms Brokers With Bully Shield Vs. UWM

Rocket covers penalties and court fees for brokers who want to get out of United Wholesale Mortgage’s ultimatum contract. 

Feb 06, 2023
Top Texas Originator Sees No Surrender To 2023

Big cities will determine the battle

Jan 26, 2023