Credit enhancement levels for commercial MBS increased in the last quarter of 2014, which could lead to higher credit-support requirements for 2015 CMBS deals, according to Fitch Ratings. “The rating agencies are increasing credit enhancements on each tier of the CMBS bonds being offered because the underwriting has become more aggressive or the collateral is weak,” said Stephen Renna, president and CEO of the CRE Financial Council (CREFC), an industry trade group. The requirement for more credit support on the conduit deals shows...

“Due to our ponderous judicial system, most of the options have been exhausted, and the judges are now expediting the [foreclosure] process,” said Mike Pappas, president and CEO of the Keyes Company.

When it comes to capital cushions, 2018 is "Year Zero" for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

In 2018, the GSE capital buffer falls to zero dollars. Zilch. Nada. Hopefully by then, President Bush or President Clinton will have worked out a GSE reform deal with Congress…

FHA lenders should spend the next couple of months familiarizing their staff with the requirements in the FHA’s new Single Family Housing Policy Handbook to ensure proper implementation of the changes on June 15, 2015, according to compliance experts. The impending changes in the Single Family Handbook are complex and significant. Lenders will need proper legal guidance to navigate and understand hundreds of pages of consolidated housing policies and guidance, as well as substantive changes to FHA requirements, said K&L Gates experts in a recent analysis. The handbook is a consolidated, authoritative source of single-family housing policy and is meant as a one-stop resource for FHA lenders. It gathers and streamlines all FHA requirements, which are currently spread throughout various handbooks, mortgagee letters and other documents, making it easier for lenders to ...

Freddie reported a $2.7 billion net worth at Dec. 31 and will pay Treasury a $900 million dividend based on fourth quarter results.

Meanwhile, the private MIs reported just $1.24 billion of new HARP business for the fourth quarter.

John Bell, assistant director for loan policy at the VA Home Loan Guaranty Service, said VA streamline refinancings rose 18 percent year over year...

Issued in November of last year, the requirement was slated to apply to all HECM mortgages with case numbers issued on or after March 2, 2015.

After Freddie Mac makes its next dividend payment in March to the U.S. Treasury, the GSE will have returned $91.8 billion to the government versus financial assistance draws of $72.3 billion.