Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) servicers completed 22,260 loan modifications in February, up 24% from the prior month, according to a Treasury Department report.

National home prices declined in January from December by 0.9%, reaching a level not seen since March 2003, according to Lender Processing Services (LPS).

After having gone through an enormous disruption characterized by unexpected deterioration and massive losses, investors in residential mortgage-backed securities have a number of reasons to feel unsettled. Regulatory uncertainty clouds the market's future and mortgage originations remain at historically low levels despite housing affordability reaching its highest level since the National Association of Realtors began keeping records in 1970.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has outlined rules that it is considering for residential mortgage servicers.

In prepared remarks today, Acting Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Edward DeMarco said his preliminary thoughts on using Treasury incentives to offer principal forgiveness to underwater borrowers.

Macquarie Investment Management (MIM), which is part of the Macquarie Funds Group, has appointed four senior executives to strengthen its distribution across Europe.

Standard & Poor's will rate the new $473.01 million Springleaf Financial RMBS.

Markit said today that its Portfolio Valuations service now offers independent valuations for power reverse dual currency notes (PRDCs).

The Federal Reserve Board is opening the door for banks to rent REO properties in an effort to slow sales of distressed properties that are contributing to downward pressure on home prices.

RMBS and CMBS due diligence provider Clayton Holdings has been approved by DBRS as a third-party due diligence firm for RMBS deals.

The higher number of rehabilitated student loans in some recent FFELP ABS deals has increased near-term liquidity risk, Fitch Ratings said in a report released today.

Two years after the federal government largely took over the student loan market, the remaining banks in the industry are bracing for another shakeup.