"We obviously have tried to be prudent in making sure we have the appropriate staff for the appropriate area," Jonathan Morris, president of BMC Capital, stresses to GlobeSt.com, responding to an inquiry about a rumored double-digit layoff in its origination ranks in Dallas. "We have to make sure we have the right people in the right places."

Morris says "a handful" of underwriters has been eliminated--a fact that's been confirmed by one of the laid-off workers. BMC's policy is not to disclose the size of its ranks, but both say it's substantially less than the rumored number of 20.

"I'm not going to say there were no changes in the underwriting group, but I don't want to get too specific," Morris says, adding the head count can fluctuate monthly. "We are continuing to hire and we are hiring in support roles and core mortgage and origination lines."