Capital markets

Lenders will need to lean on alternative products as limited mortgage rate relief keeps some consumers on the sidelines, but others will tire of waiting and act.

Companies' new uses for AI, regulators' responses to past cyber incidents and wider acceptance of digital collateral were among the year's top developments.

The scorecard the Federal Housing Finance Agency draws up yearly applies to two influential loan buyers and an entity overseeing the fungibility of their bonds.

The senior vice president who played a key role in instituting an industry scorecard passes on some insights with future relevance as she prepares to depart.

Habib, an often-accurate and frank forecaster bridging Main Street and Wall Street, explains why he found recent times to be challenging, but he's hopeful.

A Congressional Budget Office report updating one from four years ago finds 60% of its 250 scenarios will result in the Treasury getting fully repaid, up from 12%.

Monetary policy officials greenlighted a 25 basis-point federal funds cut but mixed economic signals dimmed hopes for more affordable home financing costs.

Releasing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from conservatorship without legislation is very high risk for the shareholders, writes the chairman of Whalen Global Advisors.

Depending on how far rates fall, loan officers could be on the hook for a significant part of their compensation if borrowers refinance in an expedited period.

Nonagency issuances are expected to increase 85% for this year over 2023, and rise another 36% in 2025, the second best since the financial crisis.

Bon Salle has more than 30 years of experience in areas that include the mortgage capital markets, and has served on the board at industry fintech Polly.

Unlike some recent RMBS deals, both exclude riskier interest-only loans and those supporting investment properties.

President-elect Trump's victory comes with the support of a Republican Congress. Also in November, many states voted on local property tax matters.

The distressed loan sales strategy has been in test mode since 2002. A rise in owner-occupant transactions may have made it more compelling.

The proposal is one of several that aims to address difficulties managing early buyouts from mortgage-backed securities pools.

Eastern Union put the blame on the other company Fannie Mae suspended, Sevenstone Capital, which was by former employees who left over four years prior.

But the Federal Housing Administration program was the only mortgage loan type to gain market share month-to-month as measured by rate lock percentage.

An interest rate drop spurred an unusually high number of recently originated mortgages to prepay, and one loan type proved to be particularly reactive.

Valverde, who has a wide range of experience in capital markets and housing finance, will join the government-sponsored enterprise's single-family unit.

The average cost for a loan seller to buy back a mortgage from Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac for defects is over $32,000, a study from Reggora and Stratmor found.