Secondary

WinWater Home Mortgage is planning its first sale of bonds without government backing.

The regulator wants to ensure the government-sponsored enterprises set guarantee fees at a level that turns a profit after covering the cost of capital, administrative expenses and expected credit losses.

Ocwen Financial Corp. will no longer require distressed borrowers involved in litigation with the mortgage servicer to sign nondisparagement agreements as a condition for receiving a loan modification, New York's banking regulator said Wednesday.

An appeals court on Wednesday voided a controversial decision in 2011 by New York Judge Jed S. Rakoff, saying he erred in scuttling a $325 million settlement between the Securities and Exchange Commission and Citigroup.

Bank executives see opportunity in selling MSRs and servicing the loans for the buyers.

Fairholme Capital Management sold $51 million in the common shares of mortgage financiers Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to activist investor Carl Icahn, according to a court filing.

Western Asset Management Co. is helping to resuscitate the market for mortgages not backed by the government.

A battle over social media about how well the current housing finance system treats African-Americans and other minorities has spurred a critical discussion about racial disparities in the mortgage market.

It could take quarters or years. It may require fatter yields to entice investors, or move-up homebuyers in need of jumbo loans. This much is agreed upon: Nobody really knows.

Research found the Ditech name still resonates with consumers after a five-year absence from the market, the lender says, though this incarnation won't be originating nonprime loans.