Rating agency presale reports came out last week on the latest deal from Redwood Trust, the only consistent issuer/aggregator of nonagency/Jumbo securitizations. These show it is continuing to work toward perfecting its mix of inherent Jumbo risks and mitigating factors.

Major servicers are in various stages of setting up their systems and training personnel to provide struggling homeowners with a “single point of contact” (SPOC) that they can rely on as they go through the loan modification process, according to a new report by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC).In April 2011, OCC directed 12 major mortgage servicers to clean up their shops after receiving numerous complaints from borrowers and congressmen about slow processing times, lost paper work and the difficulty of reaching anyone at the servicing company who could answer their questions.

CRE Finance Council (CREFC) has selected of Paul Vanderslice as its president for the 2012-2013 term.

WASHINGTON — Supporters of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) are dismissing a new lawsuit that seeks to abolish the agency as a political stunt, and even bank industry insiders who would like the case to succeed are privately calling it an uphill battle.

Fitch Ratings has issued the first of a series of reports that address recent investor allegations about “servicer specific deficiencies.”

Activity and flows in MBS were influenced primarily by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) meeting this week.

Among the strongest industry rationales for a national mortgage servicing settlement was that it would break the legal stalemate over a huge backlog of delinquent loans. Banks would give principal writedowns to eligible borrowers and confidently foreclose on the rest, allowing the housing market to move on.

It's tempting to ignore Moody's bank downgrades, which are affecting the ABCP market (see story). They were late, heavily broadcast in advance and came from an organization with a lot to prove after missing key elements of the credit crisis.

Santander Consumer USA plans to sell a $1.4 billion auto ABS under its Santander Drive Auto Receivables Trust 2012-4.

The housing slump will continue as student loan debt rises, according to analysis from the National Association of Home Builders.

The European Covered Bond Council (ECBC) stated that it welcomed yesterday’s announcement by an investment banking group that these institutions are committed to helping ensure the successful launch of the ECBC Covered Bond Label.