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MBS

Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac Get OK on 125% LTV

July 2, 2009 - Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have received the green light from their regulator to refinance underwater homeowners with loan-to-value ratios as high as 125%.

FDIC, Advanta Reach Settlement

July 2, 2009 - The FDIC has settled with Advanta Bank Corp. regarding the latter’s alleged deceptive and unfair practices that are in violation of section 5 of the Federal Trade Commission Act.

Hard Times Ahead for U.K. Credit Card Deals

July 2, 2009 - Increases in U.K. credit card delinquencies and charge-offs in May drove to new heights the Fitch Ratings indices tracking these performance variables.

Mortgage Rates Ease in Latest Freddie Mac Survey

July 2, 2009 - Freddie Mac reported today that 30-year fixed mortgage rates averaged 5.32% with an average 0.7 point for the week ending July 2.

Harp Loan-to-Value Maximum Raised

July 2, 2009 - The Obama administration announced Wednesday an increase in the maximum loan-to-value ratio for mortgages under its Home Affordable Refinance Program by 20 percentage points, to 125%.

Surprising Surge in Home Equity Loans

July 2, 2009 - Data suggests that many banks binged on home equity loans last year and began tightening standards only in the second half — after housing prices had already staged a dramatic retreat.

FHA Enforces Fine Print as Its Volume Swells

July 2, 2009 - Home lenders are finding that when you write mortgages for the Federal Housing Administration, the devil is in the details.

Realtors Foresee Rebound in Second Quarter

July 1, 2009 - Existing home sales bottomed out in the first quarter and sales should be up 3% when the final numbers come in for the second quarter.

Treasury Weighs In on Consumer Protection Agency

July 1, 2009 - A strong Consumer Financial Protection Agency would even the playing field so community banks would not have to compete against unregulated mortgage bankers in offering products and services.

Freddie Mac Seen Awaiting Approval of New Chief Executive

July 1, 2009 - Freddie Mac's board of directors has selected Charles E. Haldeman Jr., a top executive at Putnam Investments, to be its next chief executive.

CRE Sector Still Suffers Despite Economic Decline Slowdown

July 1, 2009 - The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) first quarter Commercial Real Estate/Multifamily Finance Quarterly Data Book released yesterday reported diminished demand for commercial real estate, although negative conditions for the sector are waning.

Credit Card ABS Remain Resilient Amid Stress

July 1, 2009 - Credit card ABS excess spread has fallen to levels not seen in ten years, according to the latest Credit Card Indexes report from Fitch Ratings. The rating agency added that U.S. consumers are still falling behind and defaulting on their credit cards.

HOPE NOW Reports May Increase in Homeowners Remaining in Homes

July 1, 2009 - In May, mortgage lenders helped 249,000 homeowners complete workout solutions to help these borrowers stay in their homes, according to HOPE NOW.

Regulatory Report Cites Better Mods But Finds Issues

July 1, 2009 - A regulatory report on the pace of mortgage modifications was a decidedly mixed bag, showing that although servicers have increased the number of sustainable modifications, serious delinquencies among prime borrowers continue to rise.

Commercial Property Could Become Operating Albatross

July 1, 2009 - Growing weakness in commercial real estate is poised to transform banking companies into accidental landlords — with a new set of headaches.