RMBS

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Thursday afternoon served official notice that it is seeking comment on a range of issues — including the cost of potential litigation — and whether debt-to-income ratios should be used to determine a borrower’s “ability to repay” a residential loan.

Freddie Mac reported 30- and 15-year fixed mortgage rates set new lows in the week ending May 31.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has decided to delay the issuance of a final ‘Qualified Mortgage’ (QM) rule until after the Nov. 6 elections, industry officials told ASR sister publication National Mortgage News.

The president and chief executive of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) David Stevens is stepping down after one year to become the president of SunTrust Mortgage.

Mortgage application activity eased 1.3% in the week ending May 25 with both refinancing and purchase activity lower.

Freddie Mac acquired almost $26 billion of residential loans during April, a steep 38% decline from the month prior, a sign that originations may be slowing — or that the GSE is losing business to its cross-town rival.

U.K.-based Clydesdale Bank is planning to issue new covered bonds from its regulated covered bond program.

The Treasury Department’s decision to raise the amount servicers can pay second-mortgage holders for a lien release should give its short sales program a boost, according to an industry expert.Second-lien holders can veto any short sale so Treasury raised the buyout limit by $2,500 to $8,500 in March along with other improvements to its Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives (HAFA) program.

Allied Irish Bank (AIB) has signed HML to offer the U.K.’s first 48 hour "hot’"standby servicing arrangement for the issuer's £437.6 million ($683 million) securitization of U.K. mortgage assets.

The nation’s megabanks are continuing to sit on their nonperforming residential loans, although some are currently out in the market with mid-sized packages.