FHFA Seeking Comments on Borrower Survey. The Federal Finance Housing Agency is seeking public comments concerning the information collection known as the “National Survey of Existing Mortgage Borrowers” (NSEMB). The NSEMB will be a periodic, voluntary survey of individuals who currently have a first mortgage loan secured by single-family residential property and will consist of about 80 to 85 questions. The comment period ends Jan. 11. SIFMA Supports Nomura’s Appeal in FHFA Case. The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association recently filed an amicus brief in support of the defendants to reverse a case in which the Federal Housing Finance Agency argued that Nomura Holdings sold shoddy mortgage-backed securities to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
An estimated 32.5 percent freefall in refi originations during 3Q had a much bigger impact on the conventional market than on government-insured lending.
Given the president’s intention to defend the Dodd-Frank Act for the remainder of his term, an industry-wide QM safe harbor for portfolio mortgages is “a heavy lift,” said former FHA chief Dave Stevens.
The bottom fell out of the mortgage-refinance market in the third quarter of 2015, and not even a historic surge in purchase-money lending could pick up the slack, according to a new Inside Mortgage Finance analysis and ranking. An estimated 32.5 percent freefall in refi originations during the third quarter had a much bigger impact on the conventional market than on government-insured lending. Conventional-conforming mortgage production fell ... [Includes two data charts]
Selling mortgage servicing rights into a declining interest rate environment can be tough sledding, but now that rates have headed north again, advisors that play in the space are anticipating strong sales through the fourth quarter and into the early months of 2016. “In the third quarter, we saw a number of large deals and even a handful of $500 million deals that just didn’t get done,” said Stephen Harris, managing director of MIAC Capital Markets. Harris also pointed out a ...
The Department of Housing and Urban Development said it has no plans for now to reduce the FHA annual mortgage insurance premium further in the wake of an annual report to Congress showing the Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund in better health and achieving a required capital reserve ratio a year sooner than experts predicted. In a press briefing, HUD Secretary Julian Castro said talk about any potential pricing change would be premature despite a ...