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DeMarco Addresses Future of ‘Broken’ Secondary Market in Speech

In prepared remarks delivered before SIFMA members Thursday, Federal Finance Housing Agency (FHFA) Acting Director Edward DeMarco addressed the current state of the secondary mortgage market and the agency’s steps toward building a better market for the future. Part of the process of improving the market is by bringing the ""conservatorships to a conclusion,"" while strengthening the private sector's role in housing finance, DeMarco contended. As it now stands, DeMarco said, ""The secondary mortgage market infrastructure that served this country for many years is broken.""

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CMBS Delinquency Rate Down to Two-Year Low: Fitch

A surge in new issuances brought down the CMBS delinquency rate in November to a two-year low, according to a report from Fitch Ratings. The November CMBS delinquency rate stood at 8.17 percent, representing a decrease of 12 basis points (bps) from 8.29 percent in October. The decrease marks the sixth consecutive month the rate has fallen and is the lowest level since November 2010, when the rate was 7.96 percent.

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Unemployment Rate Drops to 4-Year Low, 146K Jobs Added

Superstorm Sandy blew a hole not in the nation's labor market, but in economists' crystal balls as the economy added 146,000 jobs and the unemployment rate fell to 7.7 percent--the lowest level since December 2008, Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)reported Friday. Economists had forecast payroll growth of 93,000, down from 171,000 as originally reported for October, and an increase in the unemployment rate from 7.9 percent to 8.0 percent. While the drop in the unemployment rate was a positive sign, it was driven largely by a drop in the labor force.

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HUD Provides Details for Next Distressed Asset Sale

HUD's next sale as part of the Distressed Asset Stabilization Program (DASP) will include even more loans. The agency announced it will put out about 10,000-15,000 loans in its next sale, which will take place in the first quarter of 2013. The most recent sale in September included about 9,000 loans.

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Ocwen Required to Hire Monitor after a Review of Its Servicing Practices

A review of Ocwen's mortgage servicing practices has found indications of non-compliance with recent servicing reforms, New York's Department of Financial Services announced. The exam found that Ocwen sometimes failed to provide a single point of contact for borrowers, pursued foreclosure actions on borrowers seeking loan modifications, failed to conduct an independent review of loan mod denials, and failed to ensure that borrower and loan information was accurate and up to date. Following the examination, the department is now requiring that Ocwen hire an independent monitor to review its operations and identify and report on corrective actions.

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Fixed Rates Move Little, Stay Near Record Lows

Fixed mortgage rates stayed relatively calm this week as economic indicators showed improved strength, according to Freddie Mac's Primary Mortgage Market Survey. The 30-year fixed averaged 3.34 percent (0.7 point) for the week ending December 6, up from the previous week's average of 3.32 percent. This week's average is only three basis points up from the survey's record low (achieved the week ending November 21). While Freddie Mac's survey showed increases in fixed rates, Bankrate's weekly survey saw them slipping to new lows.

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Donovan Questioned by Senate Committee on FHA’s Finances

In a testimony before the Senate Banking Committee on Thursday, HUD Secretary Shaun Donovan defended the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) recent role in the housing market and the steps the agency has taken to avoid a possible bailout. In an annual report issued to Congress in mid-November, HUD revealed the capital reserve ratio of FHA's Mutual Mortgage Insurance (MMI) Fund had fallen to -1.44 percent (representing -$16.3 billion) based on data from an independent actuary. The report has many analysts, policymakers, and trade groups speculating about the likelihood of an imminent Treasury draw to keep the FHA alive.

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Home Values Up in Q3 Per Fed Report

Fueled by a $370 billion jump in the value of household real estate, household net worth grew $1.7 trillion in the third quarter to $64.8 trillion, the Federal Reserve reported Thursday in its quarterly Flow of Funds report. And, while the value of owner-occupied household real estate increased, total residential mortgage debt fell $85.8 billion. As a result, owners' equity increased almost $390 billion. Homeowners' equity as a percentage of the value of the real estate rose to 44.8 percent, the highest level since 2007, according to the report.

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MBA: Commercial, Multifamily Delinquencies Declining

Delinquencies among commercial and multifamily mortgages are down, according to the latest report from the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA). Measured separately, the delinquency rates for commercial and multifamily mortgages held by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and life companies are all ""extremely low,"" according to Jamie Woodwell, VP for commercial real estate research at MBA.

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NJCC Selected to Buy 399 Distressed Loans Through HUD Program

New Jersey Community Capital (NJCC) was selected as part of HUD's Distressed Asset Stabilization Program (DASP) to purchase 399 troubled loans, the nonprofit announced Tuesday. Out of the 399 loans purchased by NJCC, 150 were based in Essex County, New Jersey and another 249 in Tampa Bay, Florida.

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