Redwood Trust is looking to expand its footprint into funding originations by nonbanks as well as putting a greater emphasis on acquiring investment-property mortgages. The strategy announced this week was detailed one day after Redwood revealed that its CEO will retire in May. Officials said changes in the housing market have created opportunities for the real estate investment trust to “leverage our competitive strengths and expand our strategic mission.” They said funding ...

The conforming loan limit will increase again in 2018, prompting some pushback from supporters of the non-agency market. The conforming loan limit for one-unit properties in 2018 will be $453,100, up 6.8 percent from the current limit. For high-cost areas, the loan limit will be as high as $679,650 in 2018, up from $636,150 this year. The limits apply to acquisitions of mortgages by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and annual adjustments are based on a house-price index ...

Delinquency rates on subprime mortgages increased in the third quarter after showing strong improvement earlier in the year. As of the end of September, the subprime delinquency rate was 18.61 percent, according to Black Knight. The rate increased from 16.80 percent in June. As with overall mortgage performance, hurricanes had an impact on subprime delinquencies. And while delinquencies increased, they’re below the 19.03 percent level at ... [Includes one data chart]

Regulatory reform legislation with limited bipartisan support is making its way through the Senate, and a change in leadership at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau could provide further relief for the industry. This week, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs approved a regulatory reform bill on a 16-7 vote. S. 2155, the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief and Consumer Protection Act, would make adjustments to the standards for qualified mortgages ...

Housing-finance reform legislation in Congress will likely include a government guarantee for mortgage securities backed by conventional home loans after a concession this week by Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-TX. The chairman of the House Financial Services Committee has long pushed to wind down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, removing the government guarantee associated with the government-sponsored enterprises. “I continue to believe that a government guarantee in ...

Tax reform legislation on track for enactment by the end of the year could have an outsized impact on the jumbo market, according to industry analysts. The House and Senate are currently working to reconcile differences between their versions of the Tax Cut and Jobs Act. A concern for jumbo lenders is that both versions of the bill would set a $10,000 limit for deductions relating to state/local property taxes and eliminate deductions for state/local income taxes. The House bill ...

The nonprime mortgage-backed security closed by Angel Oak Capital Advisors at the end of November was oversubscribed, according to Lauren Hedvat, director of capital markets at the firm. The $210.2 million AOMT 2017-3 was backed by mortgages originated by Angel Oak Mortgage Solutions, Angel Oak Home Loans and Angel Oak Prime Bridge. Non-qualified mortgages accounted for 83.9 percent of the dollar volume in the MBS. Angel Oak said it’s ... [Includes two briefs]

Ginnie Mae has issued expanded guidelines to protect veterans and investors from harmful loan churning and rapid prepayments in mortgage-backed securities. The changes, along with additional measures under consideration by a joint Ginnie Mae/VA refinance task force, are aimed at ensuring continued strength and liquidity of the Ginnie Mae MBS program, said Michael Bright, the agency’s acting president. The latest guidelines expand on an initial measure Ginnie implemented requiring six-months of seasoning of VA loans before they can be refinanced and delivered into Ginnie MBS pools. However, some lenders have found ways around the measure and have continued their questionable lending practices, said Bright during recent testimony before a House Financial Services subcommittee. Churning is both illegal and unethical because it preys on unsuspecting borrowers, who are pressured by ...

FHA this week announced a 6.8 percent increase in loan limits nationwide for 2018 with 26 counties seeing increases above the national rate. In high-cost areas, the loan-limit ceiling will rise to $679,650 from $636,150 in 2017, while the floor will increase to $294,515 from $275,665. In addition, the national mortgage limit for Home Equity Conversion Mortgages (HECMs) or reverse mortgages will rise to $679,650 from $636,150. FHA regulations do not allow HECM loan limits to vary by metropolitan statistical area or county. Instead, the single limit applies to all mortgages regardless of where the property is located, the agency explained. In between the floor and the ceiling is a broad band of loan limits for single-family forward mortgage loans set at 115 percent of median house prices. The forward limits vary according to MSA and county. The changes in the loan limits are the result of ... [ Chart ]

Congress on Thursday passed a stopgap-spending bill to prevent a potential government shutdown and to give lawmakers time to negotiate crucial issues. The House voted 235-193 to pass the measure. A short time later, the Senate quickly approved it 81-14. The temporary spending bill will keep the government running through Dec. 22. The continuing resolution or CR, that has kept the government open would have expired on Dec. 8. Both the House and Senate are scheduled to adjourn on Dec. 15. Congress will need to pass a final appropriations bill or another continuing resolution to keep the government operating after Dec. 22. Despite differences over tax reform, FY 2018 budget, immigration, health care and other issues, lawmakers do not want a shutdown, mortgage industry sources said. Republicans, in particular, hope to enact their $1.5 trillion tax package by Christmas. On the other hand, ...