Capital markets

The Federal Housing Finance Agency said Wednesday that conforming loan limits for mortgages purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will remain at existing levels except in 39 high-cost counties.

Morgan Stanley is readying a deal backed by 57 commercial mortgages.

A new Fannie Mae program allowing non-borrower income to count in qualifying homeowners for low-down-payment loans received near-universal praise from industry representatives and federal officials at a recent housing symposium.

Freddie Mac is prepping its next risk-sharing deal, according to presales from Fitch Ratings and Kroll Bond Ratings.

No two mortgage servicing rights portfolios look the same, and buyers have strong opinions about the kinds of deals they want to do. Here are some factors that can swing MSR transaction values, according to Matt Maurer, managing director at MountainView Capital Holdings.

There's been concern this year that commercial mortgage bonds are getting backed by loans that are increasingly risky.

The reform law's Qualified Mortgage and risk-retention rules have restricted access to credit, sowing demand for niche products offered by nonbank lenders.

Freddie Mac priced another residential mortgage securitization that includes a mix of guaranteed and nonguaranteed notes.

Fannie Mae has introduced an improved online data portal, which users can customize to receive reports on loan servicing, pricing and other areas.

Commercial mortgage underwriting standards have already loosened dramatically this year, but it seems that some borrowers are still trying to get away with a little more.