Ever since the housing bust, mortgage bankers have coveted the Ginnie Mae “eagle,” which allows them to issue and service the agency’s MBS, but the pipeline of new applications is slowing. According to figures provided to Inside MBS & ABS, the agency had received 78 new applications through the end of July compared to 89 in fiscal 2013 and 99 the prior year. In an interview with this newsletter, Ginnie President Ted Tozer acknowledged the decline in applications, but didn’t seem all that concerned, adding: “I think we received a bunch recently.” In other words, applications could wind up...

Standard & Poor’s is evaluating comments on a proposal to incorporate new criteria for rating residential MBS backed by mortgage servicer-advance receivables. Issuance of servicer-advance MBS has been scarce in 2014 due to the heightened regulatory scrutiny on nonbank servicers and potential ratings volatility, leading to fewer purchases of mortgage servicing rights. So far, only one deal – a $400 million unrated servicer-advance securitization in early April – has been seen this year. But with additional clarity being provided in S&P’s proposed ratings criteria and the revised methodology getting finalized over the near term, “issuers may start feeling...

A proposal from the National Credit Union Administration to permit covered credit unions to securitize loans they have originated – but not purchased – is widely seen as insufficient by the credit union industry because of that limitation. That’s likely to prompt the regulator to favorably revise the proposal in the coming months, industry analysts say. Back in June, the NCUA issued a proposal to authorize loan securitizations by credit unions, but only for loans originated, not purchased. It also proposed permitting the creation of special purpose vehicles (SPV) to hold the assets collateralizing the securities. Additionally, the proposal lists a number of minimum requirements and limitations on residuals and retained interests. The Credit Union National Association, in its comment letter to the agency, indicated...

HSBC Holdings is headed for trial later this month, absent a deal, after a New York federal judge rejected a last ditch effort by HSBC and Nomura Holdings to toss their mortgage-backed securities suit brought by the Federal Housing Finance Agency. U.S. District Judge Denise Cote’s ruling reaffirmed earlier rulings that the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 extended the time that the FHFA could file claims against a host of big banks.

In an environment with limited jumbo originations, the transaction gives Chimera access to a large amount of seasoned residential mortgages that can be securitized into new investments.

Can former FHFA director Ed DeMarco affect the debate on the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac? Can anyone?

The FHA will no longer allow lenders to charge interest payments previously owed beyond the date the FHA mortgage was paid in full – a policy change that could help borrowers save some money. Currently, lenders can charge interest on FHA loans through the end of the month when they are paid off. The new rule is effective for loans paid off on or after Jan. 21, 2015. The policy change responds...

The FHFA IG job candidate must be able to withstand "moderate to arduous physical exertion involving walking and standing, use of firearms, and exposure to inclement weather."

Analysts at FBR & Co. view the ban as an “earnings issue” because “replacement financing would likely be more expensive than existing financing.”

“The new guys are quickly gaining on the traditional players,” said Ginnie president Ted Tozer. “Some have grown from zero to $5 billion to $10 billion overnight. We’re concerned about their infrastructure and capital.”