Economy

To be a successful mortgage loan originator, you have to be able to function in any kind of real estate market.

Recent data from Freddie Mac has provided new insights into loan losses across different mortgage types, Fitch Ratings said in a press release Thursday.

Fannie Mae veteran Karen Pallotta has joined Redwood Trust's board of directors. Pallotta's recent role at Fannie was as executive vice president of the single-family credit guaranty business, which she assumed during the height of the financial crisis.

Highland Capital Management LP won a $40 million jury award after successfully arguing Credit Suisse AG duped the Dallas-based debt manager into refinancing a shaky real-estate development.

Home sales dropped 5.2% in November compared to a year earlier, according to data published Thursday by Re/Max.

Yields on government-backed mortgage securities narrowed to the least relative to benchmark debt in more than two years, cushioning the blow of a slump in Treasuries for homebuyers.

Ocwen Financial Corp. is being examined over whether it improperly stalled short sales by borrowers who owe more than their homes are worth

The government conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was never meant to authorize lasting control over the housing sector, according to one of the people who advised Congress on the Housing and Economic Recovery Act.

Mortgage rates declined, keeping borrowing costs at the lowest levels since May 2013.

Refinancing volume rose for the fourth consecutive month in November, according to Ellie Mae.

Originators need to have quality and consistency in their marketing and public relations.

Former Countrywide Financial Corp. executive Edward O'Donnell will get $57 million for his part in bringing a whistle-blower lawsuit against Bank of America Corp. which helped the U.S. force the lender to pay almost $16.7 billion to settle mortgage fraud charges.

NeighborWorks America has named Paul Weech as its new president and chief executive.

Despite looser credit consumer demand has been on the decline, according to Fannie Mae's fourth-quarter Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey.

GuardHill Financial Corp. CEO Alan Rosenbaum has recruited veteran New York City mortgage originator—and former competitor—Melissa Cohn to bring an under-the-radar lender out of the shadows.

The Senate approved a bill late Tuesday that would retroactively extend over 50 expiring tax provisions for one years, including one that shields distressed homeowners from paying taxes on any mortgage debt forgiven in a short sale.

Bill Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, said he's added "meaningfully" to his bets on U.S. mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the past two weeks.

The Russian ruble is in freefall — it's down more than 50% since January — and interest rates are climbing on the back of the Bank of Russia's aggressive efforts to shore up the embattled currency.

The housing market will resume its recovery in 2015 after a "disappointing" year as sales accelerate, construction increases and mortgage credit eases.

More than two dozen Senate lawmakers signed a letter this week that urges the Federal Housing Finance Agency to drop its proposal to tighten Federal Home Loan Bank membership rules.