Servicing

Although Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are toying with the idea of changing their servicing contract with seller/servicers, the Government National Mortgage Association is not at this time.

The residential mortgage division of JPMorgan Chase saw its net earnings more than double to $577 million in the fourth quarter, thanks to rising loan demand and strong profit margins in residential finance.

The American Bankers Association is urging banking regulators to tailor the "qualified residential mortgage" standard so that the majority of loans originated by depository institutions are exempt from risk retention.

While not quite the same as the agonies of 2007 and 2008, 2010 was another calamitous year for the mortgage and MBS markets. Here are my expectations on a variety of topics for 2011.

Freddie Mac has engaged for the first time two rating agencies to provide conventional public ratings in conjunction with its “K” certificates as part of its first multifamily deal of this type in 2011.

Rick Beckwitt has been promoted to president of Lennar Corp., replacing Stuart Miller, who retains the chief executive title. He had been the executive vice president.

Mortgage firms initiated a record 3.8 million in foreclosure-related actions in 2010, including filing notices of default, scheduling auctions, and repossessing homes according to new figures released by RealtyTrac, Irvine, Calif.

Despite reports to the contrary, Rep. Scott Garrett says Republicans still intend to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac after a suitable transition.

Recovery in the housing market, and the economy at large, is dependent on what the government does — and doesn't do — to influence the recuperation, according to a panel of economic observers at a real estate conference in New York.

Fortress Investment Group LLC named managing director and securitized portfolio products manager Greg Finck to head a newly created mortgage and ABS portfolio strategies team within the firm's asset management unit