Finance

Companies' new uses for AI, regulators' responses to past cyber incidents and wider acceptance of digital collateral were among the year's top developments.

The scorecard the Federal Housing Finance Agency draws up yearly applies to two influential loan buyers and an entity overseeing the fungibility of their bonds.

Sales of bonds earmarked for supplemental coverage of large windstorms, earthquakes and other events totaled $17.7 billion, up 7% from the previous record set a year ago.

Releasing the GSEs from government conservatorship is on the agenda for the incoming Trump administration. Doing so could threaten the 30-year fixed rate mortgage.

The residential market is expected to face challenges from stubbornly high mortgage rates and limited supply in 2025, particularly after Fed Chair Jerome Powell's comments on Wednesday indicating fewer rate cuts are coming.

The senior vice president who played a key role in instituting an industry scorecard passes on some insights with future relevance as she prepares to depart.

Habib, an often-accurate and frank forecaster bridging Main Street and Wall Street, explains why he found recent times to be challenging, but he's hopeful.

A Congressional Budget Office report updating one from four years ago finds 60% of its 250 scenarios will result in the Treasury getting fully repaid, up from 12%.

Monetary policy officials greenlighted a 25 basis-point federal funds cut but mixed economic signals dimmed hopes for more affordable home financing costs.

Releasing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from conservatorship without legislation is very high risk for the shareholders, writes the chairman of Whalen Global Advisors.

Depending on how far rates fall, loan officers could be on the hook for a significant part of their compensation if borrowers refinance in an expedited period.

The deal mitigates mortgage-pool risk with CLO credit strengths

Nonagency issuances are expected to increase 85% for this year over 2023, and rise another 36% in 2025, the second best since the financial crisis.

Bon Salle has more than 30 years of experience in areas that include the mortgage capital markets, and has served on the board at industry fintech Polly.

Unlike some recent RMBS deals, both exclude riskier interest-only loans and those supporting investment properties.

Mortgage originators should expect more of those interest rate dips that took place in September, but when they happen is the unknown factor, economists said.

President-elect Trump's victory comes with the support of a Republican Congress. Also in November, many states voted on local property tax matters.

The distressed loan sales strategy has been in test mode since 2002. A rise in owner-occupant transactions may have made it more compelling.

Top banks are underwriting the deal, but most of the securitization's loans lack documentation.

The proposal is one of several that aims to address difficulties managing early buyouts from mortgage-backed securities pools.