Two high ranking Democratic congressmen plan to hold a hearing later this month in Chicago to highlight the failure of mortgage servicers to adequately maintain foreclosed properties.

SLM Corp. or Sallie Mae is in the market with SLM Student Loan Trust 2012-1 worth $765 million.

Gibbs & Bruns in a release said today that its clients have issued instructions to trustees US Bank and HSBC to open investigations of ineligible mortgages in pools backing more than $19 billion worth of RMBS issued by different Wells Fargo affiliates.

While all eyes were on the recess appointment of its first director Wednesday, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) quietly released guidance that directs supervised banks to turn over any and all information it requests.

Eurozone structured finance deals that are fully retained by originators for use as European Central Bank (ECB) collateral face increased rating volatility, said Fitch Ratings in a report released today.

Now that a 10 basis point hike in GSE guarantee fees has been carved into law, mortgage rates could rise by as much as 25 basis points, according to calculations done by Lenders One, a national cooperative of mortgage funders.

CenterPoint Energy Houston Electric plans to issue a $1.7 billion utility tariff securitization.

Banco BPI launched a fixed price tender offer for ten bonds across three Portuguese RMBS transactions.

Macy’s announced Wednesday night that it will be closing some of its stores while opening and replacing stores.

Newtek Business Services completed the securitization and sale of an added $20.5 million of non-guaranteed portions of U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) loans and said the forecast looks good for small business ABS in 2012.

Freddie Mac reported 30-year fixed mortgage rates eased back to 3.91% with an average 0.8 point in the week ending Jan. 5. This is from 3.95% and matches the record low set in the week ending Dec. 22.