Secondary markets

Lenders have originated just 2,015 FHA-insured short refinancings since the Federal Housing Administration launched the special program in August 2010 to provide a refinancing outlet for underwater borrowers with private label alt-A and subprime loans.

The Federal Housing Administration will take several additional steps to maximize recovery in the areas of loss mitigation and asset management.

The Royal Bank of Scotland has won a bid to dismiss a lawsuit that stems from its sale of securities backed by U.S. residential mortgages.

Jacksonville Bancorp has sold $25.1 million of troubled assets and completed its previously announced $50 million capital raise.

Between $500 million and $600 million will be returned to the MF Global Inc. estate under an agreement.

Jumbo originator PHH Mortgage Corp. is heading toward a new year with some changes under the hood.

Mission West Properties Inc. said it transferred its remaining assets to, and its remaining liabilities were assumed by, the Mission West Liquidating Trust.

Among the trends an executive at one industry vendor foresees for 2013 are changes in loan product mix and nonconforming secondary market investment interest.

There’s still an awful lot of damage and debris to be cleaned up in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, with staggering problems for those whose property was in low-lying coastal areas.

Dale Oberkfell has been elected as chairman of the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines.

Indianapolis will start 2013 by floating $42.4 million of bonds in the final debt issue for a massive $734 million public safety net hospital that is set to open by the end of the year.

Moody’s Investors Service has assigned a definitive Baa3 (sf) rating to $182 million in securities in a commercial real estate liquidating vehicle that introduces a new feature.

Purchases of mortgage loans by Fannie Mae jumped 25% in the month of November.

Lower interest rates enabled Ashford Hospitality Trust Inc. to close a $112.6 million loan secured by the Renaissance Hotel in Nashville, Tenn., and the Westin Hotel in Princeton, N.J.

Moody’s Investors Service has assigned a range of definitive ratings to about $300 million in commercial mortgage-backed securities from a single-asset transaction.

Steadfast said it has invested over $467 million in 25 apartment communities in nine Midwestern and Southern states.

Las Vegas area home prices overall are up year-to-year again, but the chips are still down when it comes to the number of total sales.

Deutsche Bank AG was sued in New York by Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg, which accuses the German bank of fraud in the sale of $173 million in mortgage-backed securities in 2007.

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.

MBIA Inc. is paying executives $11.4 million in cash bonuses to stay with the company for at least three more years.