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Inside Mortgage Finance

January 11, 2008

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Congress Could Be Unusually Productive on Mortgage- Related Issues as Markets Continue to Suffer in 2008

With housing markets in shambles, the likelihood that Congress will enact meaningful mortgage-related legislation in 2008 is better than at any time in recent memory. But experts have little confidence that FHA reform, anti-predatory lending legislation or overhaul... Read More

MBA Changes Course, Calls for Temporary ‘Jumbo’ Authority for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

The Mortgage Bankers Association – long a guardian of keeping Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on their side of the fence – last week abruptly changed its policy position on a key issue affecting business at the government-sponsored enterprises: their ability to do jumbo... Read More

Private Conduit Activity Tanked in Late 2007; Markets Went Nearly Dark in December

It’s no surprise that private mortgage conduit activity slowed down even more in the fourth quarter of 2007, but the unusually low level of new production in December suggests that the sector may be moribund for a while... [Includes two charts] Read More

New Research Finds that Problem Mortgages Now Account for Significant Number of Home Listings

The ongoing mortgage crisis is rapidly reshaping home sale activity nationwide. According to a new Inside Mortgage Finance-sponsored study, a significant number of home sale listings are being triggered by problem or troubled mortgages. The study, based on... Read More

Countrywide Copes with Another Round of Bankruptcy Rumors as December Data Thump Firm’s Stock Price

Countrywide Financial again found itself in the spotlight this week as rumors spread that the company will soon be forced to seek bankruptcy protection. Officials said there “was no substance” to the bankruptcy rumor or to suggestions that the rating services... Read More

MBA Backs States’ New National Licensing System, Enforcement Costs Remain an Industry Concern

Despite some lingering concerns, the mortgage banking industry hailed last week’s launch of the Internet-based licensing system for mortgage loan originators that is aimed at streamlining and reinforcing state mortgage regulation. Developed jointly by... Read More

Mortgage Industry Continues to Shrink as Lenders Scale Back Employment Rolls

New government data indicate that mortgage-related employment in November fell below the 400,000 level for the first time since 2001.According to preliminary data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, 269,400 people were working in “real estate credit” in November... Read More

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