Countrywide Mortgage Lending Continues Slide

Countrywide Financial Corp. reported its mortgage funding declined 12 percent to $41 billion in October compared to October 2005 and 7 percent to $375 billion on a year-to-date basis. Countrywide said purchase volume for the month was $17 billion, down 16 percent from Oct. 2005. Year-to-date purchase volume declined 10 percent to $173 billion. The Calabasas-based company said home equity lending was flat for the month at $3.6 billion and year-to-date home equity lending activity was up 11 percent to $39 billion. Mortgage loan servicing increased 18 percent to $1.26 trillion as of Oct. 31 compared to levels as of Oct. 31, 2005. “October operational results reflect both seasonal and economic mortgage market conditions,” said Angelo R. Mozilo, chairman and CEO of Countrywide.