Capital markets

A former top regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac wants to abandon the development of the common securitization platform and use the existing Ginnie Mae platform to issue government-guaranteed mortgage-backed securities.

Conforming mortgage rates were unchanged this week even as the 10-year Treasury's yield rose in response to the European Central Bank's decision to slow its bond purchase program, according to Freddie Mac.

More than $200 billion of the most poorly underwritten commercial mortgages originated before the financial crisis come due this year and next, many of them still underwater.

The Federal Reserve's mishandling of monetary policy in the 1970s opened the door to questionable products for unqualified borrowers, setting the stage for the housing crisis 30 years later.

Late payments on securitized commercial mortgages reversed course in September and resumed a climb that began in March, according to Trepp.

Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump should face more questions about housing policy, especially the lack of affordable housing to own or to rent nationwide, said Fannie Mae Chief Tim Mayopoulos.

Strong home sales are boosting originations of Federal Housing Administration loans and opening the door for first-time buyers — developments that could portend the mortgage insurance agency receiving a positive report from auditors this fall.

Mortgage rates fell as investors purchased more 10-year Treasury bonds after the Federal Open Market Committee decided to leave short-term rates unchanged.

Commercial mortgage loans held by life insurance companies provided lower returns in the second quarter than the previous one, according to the LifeComps Commercial Mortgage Loan Index.

Low interest rates are keeping the housing market strong even as affordability keeps declining, according to Freddie Mac.