Servicing

Who needs to worry about MBS risk-retention rules when you can hold fixed-rate mortgages in portfolio?

A coalition of 44 industry, consumer, community development andcivil rights groups have banded together to oppose a regulatory proposal on risk retention that they claim would increase the cost of mortgage credit for average Americans and goes beyond the intent of Congress.

Large institutions are starting to reconsider their obligation to make servicing advances to mortgage-backed securities investors as it takes longer and longer to foreclose and liquidate residential properties.

Shadow inventory for residential properties has declined to 1.7 million units in April, according to the analytic provider CoreLogic.

Note auctions are becoming more popular as an effective way of disposing of smaller distressed assets, especially for servicers that have historically shown high liquidation volumes, according to a Barclays Capital commercial mortgage securitization research report released late Tuesday.

Rising interest rates resulted in reduced refinance volume, and as a result overall mortgage application volume fell by 5.9% for the week ended June 17, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Small mortgage banking companies suffered a 66% drop in profitability in the first quarter as the refinancing boom came to an abrupt end in January and managers rushed to cut payrolls and other expenses.

A preliminary settlement has been reached between Florida-based suppliers, insurers and homeowners in which tainted Chinese drywall was used to construct various homes within the state.

A partnership between two high-profile real estate professionals and two hotel management companies has created a new joint venture called the Lodging Opportunities Group.

Two veteran real estate professionals have formed a new investment firm that buys, renovates and sells distressed residential properties.