Inside Nonconforming Markets

Subprime MBS Issuance Bounces Back in Fourth Quarter of 2006

Obituaries for the subprime securitization market seem to be premature, as subprime MBS issuance finished strongly in the fourth quarter of 2006, rebounding from a sluggish third quarter to near-record highs. Subprime securitization for the year certainly ended on a high note... Read More

Investor Concern Causing Subprime Shake-up

Warehouse lenders are growing skittish about the subprime mortgage business, causing the recent demise of a number of smaller subprime shops. Popular Financial Holdings and Mortgage Lenders Network abandoned the subprime market as they ceased their... Read More

Fed Keeping Close Watch on Subprime Market

The Federal Reserve this week urged subprime lenders to employ “prudent” underwriting standards and be wary of portfolio concentrations, warning that it will continue to closely monitor subprime lenders... Read More

Merrill Lynch Completes Purchase of First Franklin

Merrill Lynch completed its purchase of top-10 ranked subprime lender First Franklin Financial at the end of 2006, capping off a year in which Wall Street investment banks scooped up originators to feed mortgage-backed securities business... Read More

FDIC Provides Insights Into Effective UDAP Compliance

Subprime mortgage lenders should be constantly monitoring for potential violations of “unfair or deceptive acts or practices” prohibitions, to avoid ratings downgrades and regulatory enforcement actions, a Federal Deposit Insurance Corp... Read More

Moody’s Favors 40-Year Loans Over Interest-Only

Extended amortization products, such as 40-year mortgages, are gaining popularity within the subprime market, and Moody’s Investors Service recently announced a favorable stance on the products as well. However, the rating service also warned... Read More

B&C News Briefs

Congressional hearings on the subprime market... Alliance Home Funding ceases operations... Long Beach Mortgage implements stricter underwriting guidelines... Read More

January 12, 2007

View Archived Issues

Subprime MBS Issuance Bounces Back in Fourth Quarter of 2006

Investor Concern Causing Subprime Shake-up

Fed Keeping Close Watch on Subprime Market

Merrill Lynch Completes Purchase of First Franklin

FDIC Provides Insights Into Effective UDAP Compliance

Moody’s Favors 40-Year Loans Over Interest-Only

B&C News Briefs

Latest Imf News

Warehouse Lending Capacity Up Slightly in First Quarter

Economists at MBA, Fannie Closer to Alignment on Rate Forecasts

MBA Warns of Potential for Home Price Depreciation

HECM Originations Increase Slightly in First Quarter

Featured Data

Ginnie Issuance Down in May as Refis Slump

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Non-Agency Jumbo Lending Drops in First Quarter

REITs Boost MBS Holdings, AGNC Rises to Top Investor

Featured Reports

2026 Mortgage Market Statistical Annual (PDF)

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Featured Poll

As homeowner equity continues to build, more and more lenders are launching home equity lending products. Are you thinking of joining this market?