HARP 3.0 Status Update: Democrats in both the Senate and the White House are warming up efforts to expand government-backed refinance programs in order to assist underwater homeowners whose mortgages are packaged into non-agency securities. Repurposed refi proposals from last year are poised to be re-introduced in the 113th Congress with the active and vocal support of the Treasury Department, which may enact its own initiative if lawmakers can’t or won’t pass a measure. “We must expand...

Residential mortgages sourced through the correspondent channel and sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac increased by 26 percent in 2012 compared to the year before.

Morgan Stanley recently increased its ownership stake in Fortress which in turn controls a large block of Nationstar stock.

Nationstar Mortgage has agreed to buy the settlement services unit of Equifax.

The Federal Housing Administration is cracking down on down payment assistance programs, tracking the source of gift money.

Lawmakers worry about FHA's financial condition during Wednesday hearing.

First Guaranty is experiencing strong growth in its servicing business. Meanwhile, lenders worry about higher net worth requirements from the GSEs.

Standard & Poor's, which had a huge ratings market share tied to subprime MBS, was sued by the government for negligence.

City National Bank of Los Angeles is entering the mortgage warehouse business.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have developed a prototype of its standard securitization platform.