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Tag Archives: Moody’s

More Downgrades as Moody’s Goes After Several Banks

Count another major downgrade against the global financial community. On Thursday Moody's Investors Service slashed credit ratings for 15 major financial institutions, including Bank of America, Citigroup, JPMorgan Chase, and Morgan Stanley, among others. The reason for Moody's actions: The biggest banks face too much risk from debt-saddled Europe, earnings volatility, and still-faulty mortgages stateside. The ratings agency grouped the downgraded institutions into three groups. Stocks slid for many of the banks.

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Court Unlikely to Favor Homeowner in Florida Foreclosure Case: Moody’s

If fraudulent documents are found in a foreclosure case, should banks be able to voluntarily dismiss the foreclosure then re-file the case after fixing the error? The answer to this question is currently being decided by the Florida Supreme Court, which heard arguments May 10 for a case titled Roman Pino v. Bank of New York Mellon. If the court does rule in favor of Pino, this would mean servicers would no longer be able to fix documents and refile foreclosures, which would stall or lead to the dismissal of foreclosure cases and make it even more difficult for the judicial state to proceed with foreclosures. While a decision has not been made, Moody's Analytics said the ruling is not likely to fall in favor of the defendant Pino, who is the homeowner the bank tried to foreclose on using a fraudulent assignment of mortgage.

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Expanding HARP to Prevent Defaults and Stimulate Economy

While seeming to recover, the housing market is still undoubtedly fragile, and there are millions of underwater borrowers who continue to struggle with making payments. While HARP proposes to address these concerns, the program has been limited in its ability to reach the masses. Through the Responsible Homeowner Refinancing Act of 2012 introduced by Democratic Sens. Bob Menendez (D-New Jersey) and Barbara Boxer (D-California), a new HARP 3.0 would break down barriers preventing millions more from refinancing. During a hearing on Thursday before a senate subcommittee, industry experts and leaders offered testimony on how the proposed legislation could impact the economy.

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Credit Trends Among U.S. Consumers Point to End of Housing Downturn

Consumer credit data suggests spending will increase and the housing market will begin to emerge from its slump this year, according to Equifax and Moody's Analytics. Both companies note that as key market data align with pre-recession totals, consumers should anticipate steady economic growth for major credit sectors, including auto, bank card, and consumer finance. While the mortgage lending sector continues to see the highest percentage of delinquencies, it too is showing signs of increased traction in the coming months.

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Outstanding Mortgage Balances Declined $30B Each Month in 2011

Each month of 2011, outstanding mortgage balances in the U.S. declined by an average of $30 billion, according to a recently released report from Moody's Analytics and Equifax. The report attributes the decline to defaulted loans being written off. Aggregate delinquency rose by 6 basis points in December to 6.12 percent, according to the companies' joint study. The rate remains in line with rates seen since April but has declined since a January high of 8.25 percent.

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Loan Modifications Are on the Decline: Moody’s

As robo-signing reviews reach completion, servicers are beginning to work through some of their foreclosure backlogs, according to a third-quarter report from Moody's Investors Service. At the same time, the ratings agency found that loan modifications are on the decline. Servicers are now turning to loss mitigation alternatives such as short sales and deeds in lieu, Moody's says. The agency is also forecasting longer timelines this year to move properties from foreclosure sale to REO liquidation.

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Moody’s: U.S. CMBS Loan Delinquencies Rise to 9.32%

The delinquency rate on loans included in commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) transactions increased by five basis points in December to 9.32 percent, according to Moody's Investors Service. At the same time, the rate of loans in special servicing declined by 13 basis points. December was the 12th consecutive month that CMBS delinquencies have been above 9 percent, by Moody's assessment. Bank of America Plaza in Atlanta, Georgia, with an outstanding balance of $363 million, was the largest newly delinquent loan in December.

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Biggest Risk for RMBS Investors? Strategic Defaults.

The performance of private-label residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) continues to face many challenges in 2012, with the biggest risk posed by strategic defaults, according to Moody's. The ratings agency says the performance of loan pools backing outstanding RMBS has begun to stabilize, with delinquency levels flat or even dropping as a result of modifications and re-default rates declining. It's the threat of strategic default, particularly in the prime jumbo sector, that has Moody's analysts worried.

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Moody’s Mark Zandi Lowers Expectations for Economic Growth

Moody's Analytics' chief economist Mark Zandi has lowered his expectations for the growth of the U.S. economy into 2012. He says GDP will grow 2.6 percent next year and unemployment will likely remain high. Zandi and his colleagues at Moody's expect the U.S. economy to perform a bit better in 2012, but they say the outcome will depend on policy decisions coming out of both Europe and Washington.

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Valuations and Sales Discounts Eat Away at Foreclosure Proceeds

Low property valuations and steep sales discounts reduce the proceeds from liquidated loans by almost a third, according to Moody's Investors Service. As home prices drop, equity erosion drives most of the losses incurred on defaulted loans, but Moody's says in today's environment that's not the whole story. The agency's analysis of 46,000 loans liquidated since 2007 found that on average, a foreclosed property will be valued about 18 percent lower than average home prices, and will be subject to an additional sales discount of about 15 percent.

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