Countrywide Financial released its January production numbers, revealing a surge in applications and loans in process, but an increase in delinquencies and foreclosure activity as well.
The Calabasas, CA-based mortgage lender said average daily mortgage loan applications totaled $2.6 billion, up from $1.5 billion in December, its highest level since July.
Loans in process also surged to a near six-month high, totaling $51 billion in January, up from just $35 billion in December.
Total fundings were $21.9 billion in January, down six percent from $23.5 billion in December, and down nearly 50 percent from the $37.8 billion reported a year ago.
Wholesale loan fundings continue to march downward, with January’s $11.7 billion just over a third of the total in the same month a year ago.
Retail and correspondent fundings also posted month-to-month declines, while commercial real estate fundings plummeted to just $50 million.
Refinances made up about 75 percent of total fundings, with adjustable-rate mortgages falling to just over a 10 percent share.
So-called nonprime fundings were null during the month, down from just $6 million last month and $2.9 billion a year ago.
Unfortunately, delinquencies were moving in the opposite direction, climbing to a rate of 7.47 percent of unpaid balance, up from 7.20 percent in December and 4.32 percent a year ago.
Foreclosures also inched higher, rising to 1.48 percent of its $1.48 trillion servicing portfolio, up from 1.44 percent in December and double the 0.77 percent rate a year earlier.
Countrywide’s bank ended January with $111 billion in assets, down from $113 billion in December, its first monthly decline in over a year.
The lending giant also reduced its workforce by 486 employees during the month to a total of 50,114, with the bulk of losses in origination and gains seen in servicing.
Shares of Countrywide were down 8 cents, or 1.16 percent, to $6.84 in afternoon trading on Wall Street.
(Photo: el7bara)
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