When it comes to the new QM rule lenders are operating from a position of fear. You can bet that mortgage attorneys in the Washington DC area have racked up the billable hours, holding their clients hands and supplying legal advice as the clock strikes midnight.
Some GSE watchers fear that new Federal Housing Finance Agency director Mel Watt might slow GSE risk sharing deals but those concerns may be unwarranted.
Fannie, Freddie and their regulator have been dogged in their pursuit of claims against banks that sold defective mortgages to the GSEs prior the financial crisis.
Monthly production of single-family MBS went into a steady, year-long decline at the beginning of 2013. In December, total single-family MBS issuance fell to just $77.1 billion, the lowest monthly production figure since July 2011.
The mergers-and-acquisitions market is expected to be robust this year thanks to falling loan production, which likely will force weaker players in the mortgage industry to align with stronger partners. But now theres another reason why M&A activity could be brisk: new servicing rules from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. According to industry officials and Fitch Ratings, new servicing rules will drive up compliance costs for all servicers, but smaller players including community banks and nonbanks could see their profits erode as they increase spending to stay compliant. In a new report, Fitch writes...
MGIC's stock is trading near a 52-week high of $8.82 a share. The company, like the rest of the sector, is anxiously waiting on new capital-to-risk standards from FHFA.
This time around, Congress is considering tapping Fannie/Freddie g-fees as lawmakers look toward an extension of unemployment benefits, which expired on December 31.
Transactions submitted with consumer-paid compensation more than 50 bps below [the] brokers lender-paid tier will be rejected permanently and will not be eligible for re-submission, Fifth Third Bank is warning.
In a letter sent to new agency Director Mel Watt, GOP Congressmen Scott Garrett, Randy Neugebauer and John Campbell note that the 10 basis point increase proposed by Watts predecessor is not the only fee adjustment up for grabs.