Not only is Citigroup selling $61 billion in legacy MSRs, but the megabank is trying to clear out its legacy buyback exposure.

It’s no secret that Nationstar has been an active bidder on MSRs the past two years, taking down some huge packages of product, including receivables from Bank of America.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will determine new risk ratios for the mortgage insurance industry, not the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

FHA needs money, right? Some of that cash may come to the government insurer in a roundabout way from JPMorgan Chase.

Bargain hunters are beginning to eye the mortgage market, hoping to pick up franchises at a discount to prices paid in 2012 and earlier this year. But getting capital-rich companies to sell – even with refinance production dwindling – could prove to be a challenge. “We haven't seen any efforts to re-price transactions in process,” said Chuck Klein, managing partner of Mortgage Banking Solutions, Woodway, TX. “If volume and profits are falling below the budget and forecast on deals at the discussion level, then the seller must be able to present a reasonable explanation of how they are to achieve projections in their budget and growth.” Larry Charbonneau, who runs Charbonneau & Associates, another Texas-based consultancy, said...

Here's an odd turn of events: Freddie Mac might bail out Uncle Sam. Meanwhile, the mortgage insurance industry continues to mend.

David Akre of Five Oaks projects that in a few years, issuance of non-agency jumbo MBS could reach $300 billion annually.

The MBS lawsuits target Barclays, Credit Suisse, Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan Chase, Morgan Stanley, Residential Funding Securities, Royal Bank of Scotland, UBS and Wachovia.

Fannie Mae seller/servicers also can dodge the maintenance fee if they have $25 million in Fannie servicing or paid $5,000 in technology fees.

Besides Citi, a handful of large depositories are in the midst of wrapping up sizable MSR auctions this week, including offerings from Wells Fargo and Flagstar Bancorp.