The worst kept secret in the mortgage industry is that a guaranty fee hike is coming. But no one knows when.

“We need the light hand of government to set standards and systems for the market to move forward and private capital to return,” said Chris Katopis, executive director of the Association of Mortgage Investors, in testifying at a hearing this week in the House Financial Services Committee. While members of the committee appear to be nowhere near agreement on how to resolve the ongoing conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – or how they might be replaced – lawmakers, non-agency MBS issuers and investors all agreed on the need for new standards to increase non-agency MBS activity. The AMI called...

Standard and Poor's is fighting back against the federal government in its $5 billion MBS fraud case.

The non-agency/jumbo market cannot truly revive until Congress passes laws aiding transparency and decreasing risk to potential participants.

Although Flagstar earned money on its mortgage business in the first quarter, its gain-on-sale margin took a major hit.

ASF suggests that one way to reduce the market share of the GSEs is to hike guaranty fees once again.

PennyMac once again posted strong earnings, but the REIT's correspondent purchases are beginning to slow somewhat.

The jumbo market is heating up, which means the price paid for whole loans is on the rise.

Vericrest Financial is said to be the winning bidder on a $16 billion package of mortgage servicing rights. However, the company would not comment.

Obtaining approvals to become a GSE seller/servicer can cost you, but think of the money you can make from owning servicing rights.