Secondary markets

A number of real estate investment trusts are taking a close look at "securitization 2.0."

UBS AG agreed to pay an initial $358 million to Assured Guaranty Ltd. to settle litigation over money-losing residential mortgage-backed securities transactions.

Residential Capital sued a group of hedge funds it owes almost $1 billion, accusing them of wrongly pushing for extra interest payments that would cost more than $180 million.

Genworth U.S. Mortgage Insurance's CEO said private mortgage insurance is currently very competitive with the Federal Housing Administration.

The ability-to-repay standards and qualified mortgage definitions issued by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau leaves the consumer with little or personal responsibility for their actions.

Compliance is one of the big topics of discussion at this year’s Mortgage Bankers Association National Secondary Market Conference in New York.

While Fannie and Freddie's regulatory plan for a single securities platform is separate and distinct from the single security MBA president and CEO David Stevens has been pressing for since last year, the common platform could possibly accommodate it.

The economists at the Mortgage Bankers Association believe the Federal Reserve will not start selling off the mortgage-backed securities it purchased any time soon.

HomeTrust Bancshares has agreed to buy BankGreenville Financial in South Carolina.

Bank of America has agreed to pay the bond insurer MBIA $1.6 billion to settle a five-year-old dispute over losses related to soured mortgage-backed securities

Big players remain largely absent from the re-emerging private-label residential mortgage-backed securities market.

The results of the Consumer Financial Protection Board’s rulemaking process add costs and time to the loan origination process.

In March, DataQuick said 10,215 new and resale houses and condominiums closed escrow in the Miami metropolitan area.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans must comply with the requirements of the qualified mortgage rule starting in January.

Mortgage Bankers Association officials believe the market is improving but not fast enough, and a move toward government-sponsored enterprise reform needs to happen while refinancing is ensuring a liquid market.

A common securitization platform is under full scale development and should be ready for significant testing by next year.

Aklero and NYLX have agreed to a merger with undisclosed terms, forming a new company called LoanLogics Inc.

Real estate investment trust American Capital Agency Corp. recorded a comprehensive loss for the first quarter of $557 million.

OptifiNow, a maker of mortgage lending software, is rolling out a service to streamline paperwork and ease compliance.

Bank of America’s proposed $8.5 billion settlement with mortgage-bond investors should be rejected by a New York court, American International Group said.