Servicing

Fannie Mae has purposely kept its mouth shut regarding its investment in servicing rights - especially its $74 billion MSR purchase from Bank of America this past fall which cost the GSE about 50 basis points. But its days of being super secretive may be coming to an end.

Britton & Koontz Bank in Natchez, Miss., has been ordered by its regulator to immediately take steps to reduce the level of risk in its real estate loan portfolio.

Technology providers are rolling out new updates and products this week at the Mortgage Bankers Association's servicing conference in Orlando.

Joining ranks with 37 other states, South Carolina has outlawed private transfer fees on homes.

UGL Services has launched a new group to provide financial analytics support and advisory services for commercial real estate distressed assets, leasing deals and capital markets-related transactions.

Attorney General Eric Holder recently launched the Consumer Protection Working Group to combat consumer fraud nationwide, which has the capability to cripple households and cause extensive losses to the economy.

A short sale is considered a more favorable outcome for a troubled homeowner because after the transaction, a borrower can walk away with a better chance to rebuild their credit after avoiding foreclosure. The price is usually higher than a foreclosure or REO sale because the property was occupied and maintained by the owner.

United Guaranty Corp., Greensboro, N.C., the nation's third largest mortgage insurer, Tuesday named Kim Garland to be the firm's new president and CEO.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency is turning its attention to short sales as part of its "servicing alignment" project.

The national mortgage delinquency rate fell to 7.97% in January, a slight sequential improvement, and an 11% drop from the same month a year ago, according to "first look" figures compiled by Lender Processing Services.