RMBS

Turning foreclosed properties into rentals on a mass scale will reduce "some of the fears that an avalanche of distressed properties" will rattle the housing market, according to a new report from Wells Fargo Securities (WFS).

Volkswagen AG has priced its €930 million ($1.23 billion) German auto loan securitization called VCL 15.

After popping up eight basis points last week after holding at a record low 3.87% for three weeks, 30-year fixed mortgage rates declined five basis points to 3.90% for the week ending March 1, according to Freddie Mac's survey.

Banks are applying a well-honed strategy to mitigate regulators' recent proposal to determine capital requirements for assets that include securitizations.

The state attorneys general announced last month that they finally reached a settlement with the five largest servicers over improper foreclosure and servicing practices.

In recent Senate comments, Federal Reserve Governor Elizabeth A. Duke said that "the failure of the housing market to respond to lower interest rates as vigorously as it has in the past indicates that factors other than financial conditions may be restraining improvement in mortgage credit and housing market conditions." She is absolutely correct. Aside from the overhang of problem loans, housing remains weak because dislocations in the primary mortgage market have limited the availability of mortgage funds. Unless mortgage lending moves to a stronger footing and can better serve the broad housing market, home prices will remain under pressure.

With the housing market apparently showing long awaited signs of stability, it's not hard to understand why a program allowing investors to purchase the government's stock of real-estate-owned (REO) homes in bulk and rent them out is generating so much buzz.

As securitization players seek out new collateral, their relationship with the government has lurched between friend and foe.

The first two months of the year saw a handful of European originators launch tenders to buy back their structured finance bonds.

Two major themes that have been dominating the MBS market so far in 2012 are the third round of quantitative easing, or QE3, and refinancing activity associated with the changes to the Home Affordable Refinancing Program, dubbed HARP 2.0.