Ocwen Financial continues to work toward satisfying regulatory requirements that would allow the nonbank to resume acquisitions of mortgage servicing rights. However, officials stress that MSR acquisitions aren’t the main focus for the company. “Right now, I don’t see in the marketplace a lot of opportunities for the kind of servicing transfers that would interest Ocwen and that’s why we’re focusing more of our efforts on generating new assets ... [Includes one data chart]
Freddie Mac is preparing to sell its second “Whole Loan Securities” transaction, according to a presale report from Moody’s Investors Service. The planned $634.64 million deal will be structured like a non-agency mortgage-backed security with senior tranches and subordinate tranches. Unlike the first deal from the government-sponsored enterprise, the planned issuance received ratings on some of the subordinate tranches. The unrated senior ... [Includes three briefs]
The FHA has issued temporary guidelines to ease the condominium approval process and increase the number of condo projects eligible for FHA financing. The guidelines take effect immediately and will be in place for one year to give FHA enough time to write and implement a more comprehensive rule. With the issuance of the guidelines, FHA anticipates an increase in the pool of FHA-eligible condo projects, which in turn will provide more affordable housing options for first-time and low- to moderate-income borrowers. The interim guidelines modify three key areas where lender complaints have been common. First, the guidelines revise requirements for recertification of condo projects. FHA-approved condo projects require recertification after two years to ensure that the project is still in ...
The third-quarter figure was the largest new insurance written total for the industry since 1Q 2008, when private MIs booked $72.17 billion of new coverage.
Although the home foreclosure inventory is falling compared to a year ago, some metropolitan areas are seeing an increase in new filings, including Atlantic City.
The private mortgage insurance industry did more business during the third quarter than it has in any period since the housing market came unglued in early 2008 and rolled to another solid round of financial results, according to an Inside Mortgage Finance ranking and analysis. But early indicators suggest the FHA and VA government insurance programs continue to provide stiff competition in the primary MI market. While neither government agency has released new business data for the third quarter, trends in the Ginnie Mae program suggest that the private MI share of new primary coverage drifted down to 33.8 percent in the third quarter, the lowest it’s been since the beginning of 2013. Mike Zimmerman, senior VP for investor relations at Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corp., said...[Includes three data tables]