Mortgages

A Las Vegas real estate agent was sentenced to a prison term for her participation in a mortgage fraud scheme involving, among other things, straw buyers.

Sales of newly constructed homes jumped 4.4% in November after falling 3.5% in October.

Moody’s Investors Service has downgraded the ratings of 11 tranches and upgraded the ratings of six tranches from six 2004 jumbo residential mortgage-backed securities deals issued by Wells Fargo.

Brandon Boze, an executive from CBRE Group’s largest shareholder, has joined the group’s board.

Next year, 2013, is the year the mortgage industry shakes off its tepid pace and gets on track for a robust recovery.

The average rate for a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage dropped two basis points to 3.35% from the previous week.

Merrimack Mortgage Co. said integrated communication and file services Google provides were a key part of its growth strategy.

Sales of U.S.-backed mortgage bonds soared to a three-year high as steps by the Federal Reserve and Obama administration to make home ownership more affordable propelled a 34% jump in refinancing.

When conducting a broker price opinion, one of the most important aspects to determine the proper value for an asset is being familiar with that local community.

Teaching struggling borrowers how to manage their finances creates value at numerous levels not only for the parties directly involved such as servicers.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development recently announced that it would shut down the fixed-rate Standard Home Equity Conversion Mortgage product by Jan. 31 due to losses caused by technical defaults.

DocuTech said it will be leading a response from lenders to the CFPB’s Project Catalyst, which aims to involve mortgage executives in testing new disclosures.

Freddie Mac has approved Radian Mortgage Assurance to write coverage through the end of next year.

Hedge funds and private-equity firms are betting on delinquent home loans being sold by the Federal Housing Administration.

Up to 55% of the economists, real estate experts, investors and market strategists participating in a survey find 2013 home prices would not be negatively affected by potential mortgage interest deduction reductions.

The housing market will continue to improve in 2013, as long as the U.S. economy continues its slow recovery, according to Standard & Poor's.

Guthrie Federal Credit Union has joined the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh.

Builder Lennar Corp.’s Rialto Capital subsidiary has completed the first closing of its second real estate investment fund.

The October Case-Shiller 20-city home price index shows prices edged down 0.1% in October from the month prior.

Finding good strategic partners and vendors by mortgage lenders is not just sound business strategy anymore but the law.