Secondary

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which attracted investors such as hedge-fund manager Bill Ackman even as the mortgage giants hand over their profits to taxpayers, are tumbling again.

Commercial real estate lender Walker & Dunlop has added three originators to a conduit and high-yield lending joint venture with Fortress Investment Group.

Municipal Mortgage & Equity will change its name to MMA Capital Management LLC, effective Sept. 29.

The Federal Home Loan banks of Seattle and Des Moines announced Thursday that their boards have unanimously approved a definitive agreement to merge.

Fannie Mae, the largest source of funding for U.S. mortgages, said Chief Operating Officer Terence Edwards plans to leave the government-backed company in the first half of next year.

A high percentage of Federal Housing Administration-insured loans are falling into the “higher priced” bucket due to a series of mortgage insurance hikes over the past several years.

A program that moves distressed mortgages out of the foreclosure pipeline can save the FHA and GSEs money and give troubled borrowers a better shot at staying in their homes — but only if it's properly implemented.

Proposals in Congress to change the structure of the government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac seem to be languishing in this election year.

Rep. John Delaney said Tuesday that he's "optimistic" Congress could take up reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac next term, despite the political difficulties lawmakers have faced in getting legislation approved over the past two years.

Garry Cipponeri, the head of capital markets for JPMorgan Chase & Co.'s U.S. mortgage unit, is leaving the bank to start a new company, according to two people with knowledge of the move.