Finance

The range of loan products offered by mortgage lenders and investors has been narrow since the housing crisis, but a few underserved niches are starting to make a comeback.

Housing markets are steadily improving nationwide, according to the latest Freddie Mac's Multi-Indicator Market Index.

The bankruptcy of Wingspan Portfolio Advisors epitomizes the existential crisis facing default servicing. This once-thriving sector of the mortgage industry now finds itself declining in lockstep with the drop in loan delinquencies and foreclosures.

U.S. housing-finance reform may be even more remote thanks to a provision in the Senate's transportation bill that uses the mortgage giants as a source for funds, according to lawmakers and industry groups.

Interest rates for fixed mortgages fell in the week ending July 23, but short-term adjustable-rate mortgages saw modest increases, according to Freddie Mac's primary mortgage market survey.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's new integrated disclosure regulations could pose problems for warehouse line providers along with their mortgage lender clients.

Huntington Bancshares in Columbus, Ohio, reported higher quarterly in profit that reflected higher in mortgage banking fees and steady loan growth.

WASHINGTON — The Senate Finance Committee voted Tuesday for a measure that would extend a temporary 10-basis point hike in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guarantee fees for an additional four years.

Radian's note repurchase and issuance of new debt have helped increase the liquidity and capital strength of its mortgage insurance business.

Genworth Financial Inc. is in exclusive talks to sell a European unit to France's Axa SA as Chief Executive Officer Tom McInerney works to fill a capital gap at its private mortgage insurance subsidiary.

The new MBS program gives FHLB members direct access to the secondary market.

Wellington Denahan is stepping down as chief executive officer of Annaly Capital Management Inc., the largest real estate investment trust that buys mortgage debt.

Community Housing Capital in Decatur, Ga., has received a $100 million line of credit dedicated for the development and preservation of affordable housing from a syndicate organized by Morgan Stanley.

JPMorgan Chase & Co. agreed to pay $388 million to settle a suit by investors who claimed the bank misled them about the safety of $10 billion worth of residential mortgage-backed securities, a lawyer said.

As new foreign bank regulations push financial institutions to shed risk-weighted assets, companies like Barclays and RBS are reducing their roles in the mortgage-backed securities market. But reduced competition in this sector is bad for liquidity.

Fannie Mae has priced what it expects will be its final fixed severity deal.

JPMorgan Securities will issue a total of $388 million of securities backed by two pools of jumbo, prime residential mortgages.

Freddie Mac is expanding its risk-sharing efforts meant to protect taxpayers and potentially prepare the $9.4 trillion U.S. home-loan market for its future.

MGIC has discounted single-premium lender-paid mortgage insurance by 11% during the second quarter in order to get market share in this highly competitive product.

Credit Suisse Group is seeking to sell almost $300 million of notes tied to mortgage-insurance policies written by an American International Group Inc. unit, offering investors a new way to profit from a reviving U.S. housing market.