Secondary

Both parties appear interested in a deal on housing finance reform, but tough fights are ahead.

Angel Oak was able to secure triple-A credit ratings for its next offering of nonprime residential mortgage bonds, despite offering considerably less credit enhancement.

The Blackstone Group is tapping the commercial mortgage bond market to help finance the purchase of 11 multifamily properties from IMT Capital, according to Kroll Bond Rating Agency.

The Main Street GSE Reform Coalition offered three principles: creating a capital buffer for Fannie and Freddie, continuing with reforms by their regulator and ending the conservatorship that began in 2008.

Lea Overby was formerly managing director, research; she replaces Charles Citro, who left the credit rating agency to pursue other opportunities.

The real estate investment trust is issuing its fourth securitization of older performing and non-performing loans of the year, and 13th since 2014.

The Senate is set to begin teeing up housing finance reform discussions at a Banking Committee hearing on Thursday, but many are skeptical that Congress will be able to succeed where it has failed in the past.

A key question for the future of housing finance is whether large and small lenders will both be able to compete, or will a new system favor Wall Street giants?

Affordable housing shortages and declining loan volumes are making it difficult for banks to originate enough mortgages to meet their Community Reinvestment Act obligations, which could make filling shortfalls with loans from nonbanks more expensive.

The NCUA is letting federal credit unions securitize and sell assets. Such transactions would free up capital at credit unions, allowing them to make more loans.