Secondary markets

There is a major problem first-time homebuyers are currently battling: giant student loan debt.

Ginnie Mae MBS issuance totaled $38.7 billion in February, up 1% from January,

Redwood Trust stock was selling at a 4.46% gain, leading the Mortgage Industry Equity Composite on Tuesday.

Redwood Trust is preparing its fourth private-label residential mortgage-backed securitization of the year.

Bank of Commerce Mortgage officially changed its name to Commerce Mortgage.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been selling their marketable MBS out of their investment portfolios over the past three years while accumulating whole loans, including distressed loans.

Genworth Financial posted the largest gain in the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index on speculation the company will benefit from the rebound of the housing market.

Ally Bank has reached an agreement to sell a portfolio of more than $85 billion in agency mortgage servicing rights to Ocwen Financial Corp. for roughly $585 million.

Prime borrowers whose loans are making up the small number of private mortgage-backed securities pools issued since the start of 2010 are prepaying at rapid rates.

A $390 million large-loan commercial mortgage backed securities deal backed by a property on New York’s Fifth Avenue is coming to market with preliminary ratings from Kroll.

An affiliate of Oaktree Capital Management has acquired, in partnership with National Financial Realty, a 40-building office property portfolio for $240 million from First States Investors.

Marshall Community CU had to make major changes when the real estate market crashed, and since 2009 has diversified its product mix and focused on cross-selling to great success.

There seems be a general consensus that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should eventually be shut down.

Federal Reserve Gov. Elizabeth Duke said the improving housing market shows that the central bank’s $85 billion in monthly purchases are working to boost the economy.

Fitch Ratings said two potential reforms offer the most promise for bringing private capital back into the mortgage market.

There is one observer who is seeing people leaving larger organizations and returning to independent status.

Mortgage-backed securities have experienced enough gains for some agency real estate investment trust investors to question how much room they have left to run.

A Credit Suisse prepayment forecast suggests the slowdown in lower coupons last month will continue in March based on rate activity to date.

Ambac Financial Group has gotten a deadline for satisfying a condition of its reorganization plan extended.

Arlington Asset Investment Corp. has priced a public offering of 3 million shares of common stock at a public offering price of $25.50 per share.