National Mortgage News and the Quarterly Data Report indicate a jump in market share of the top five residential servicing firms to 66.94 percent at the end of 2008 from 55.93 percent at the end of 2007, indicating an increase in industry consolidation.

Servicing rights among the firms jumped 27 percent to $6.513 million. Bank of America's acquisition of Countrywide Financial made it the top servicer, with a market share of 21.13 percent.

Source: National Mortgage News, Paul Muolo