Secondary

Though parts of the country are still struggling to return to benchmark levels, many of the housing markets across the U.S. showed signs of improvement in February, according to Freddie Mac.

NMI Holdings lost $2.5 million in the first quarter, an improvement over a first-quarter 2015 loss of $7.8 million, which is a sign the private mortgage insurer remains on track to become profitable later this year.

Clayton Holdings reported a $3.7 million pretax first-quarter loss, but Radian's mortgage insurance business had pretax income of $140 million, a 10% increase over the prior year.

A recently enacted requirement from the Securities and Exchange Commission places liability for collateral assets within securitization trust funds squarely on the shoulders of a depositor's chief executive, prompting calls for more extensive due diligence procedures.

The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority intends to offer $189 million in tax-exempt bonds Tuesday to finance single-family mortgages.

Freddie Mac has revised downward its economic forecast for the remainder of 2016 following a tepid first quarter, but still remains upbeat about the housing market.

Purchases of new homes unexpectedly declined in March for a third month, reflecting the weakest pace of demand in the West since July 2014.

Blackstone Group, with real estate assets that have surpassed $100 billion, is considering tapping individual investors as it expands its push into owning high-quality buildings with steady income streams.

Fannie Mae has completed its latest Credit Insurance Risk Transfer transaction, the 10th deal since the program's inception in 2013.

Rates for the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage rose slightly last week, as recent figures showing an active home-sales market suggest homebuyers are taking advantage of current conditions, according to Freddie Mac.