RMBS

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.

A federal judge from the the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York yesterday approved a $40 million settlement in an MBS class action lawsuit against individuals formerly affiliated with Lehman Brothers Holding. The company went bankrupt in September 2008.

The mortgage servicing industry has lost the benefit of the doubt with judges, regulatory agencies and attorneys representing debtors, and according to a panel of industry experts, proper documents and filing procedures are a critical tool for buyers and sellers to make the most of investment opportunities in distressed and delinquent mortgage portfolios.

Fitch Ratings thinks that the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) plans to clarify the rules on putback requests might be positive for the U.S. housing market if it leads to lending beyond the “pristine” borrower profile.

Six out of 10 homeowners who received a loan modification stopped paying their mortgage again after 18 months, but there may be a modest silver lining buried in the high recidivism rates.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is coming under industry pressure to delay finalizing a merger of the RESPA/TILA mortgage disclosure forms until the qualified mortgage and qualified residential mortgage rules are finalized.

Freddie Mac reported 30-year fixed mortgage rates set new historical lows for the week ending June 21 at 3.66% with an average 0.7-point.

The Federal Reserve’s announcement that it will be extending Operation Twist disappointed mortgage investors as the statement did not include any additional mortgage purchases, according to a JPMorgan Securities midday report released Wednesday.