It appears that well known economist Mark Zandi is indeed a candidate to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency. But will the White House actually nominate him?

Although the nation's largest lender, Wells Fargo, saw residential fundings slip in the first quarter, Citigroup had a gain.

The market for residential servicing rights is picking up a full head of steam with several packages out for bid.

Now that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are earning a ton of money, who will have a say over what happens to that cash?

RAIT Financial Trust, Philadelphia, is funding roughly $60 million to $70 million a quarter in multifamily and low-balance commercial loans, product that is winding up in MBS issued by Barclays Capital and Citigroup Securities. According to Jason Stewart, an analyst with Compass Point Research & Trading LLC, the company also has a line of credit from Credit Suisse, and is working on a $100 million to $150 million deal that could be ready by the third quarter. A publicly traded real estate investment trust, RAIT is...

Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase continue to post strong residential finance profits, but there is a growing worry that the "mortgage party" may be drawing to a close.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency wants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to develop contingency plans in case one of their counterparties blows up.

Over the past five years, lender captives paid $706 million in losses. Most of these captives were domiciled in the U.S. and sponsored by mortgage lenders, receiving $2.92 billion in ceded premiums.

This past fall the Mortgage Bankers Association was pushing for a housing policy coordinator in the White House to ensure that federal regulations complement one another rather than conflict.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are now earning money hand-over-fist - cash that will wind up in the coffers of Uncle Sam. But is the White House underestimating how much the two GSEs will earn?