RMBS

An N.Y. judge is considering a petition of investors to intervene in Bank of America's proposed $8.5 billion MBS settlement.

The national delinquency rate on outstanding home mortgages ticked up to 8.44% in the second quarter, which means roughly $793.4 billion of residential loans are 30 days or more past due.

The loan-limit countdown has begun. In lieu of lower loan limits on conforming loans and mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), some lenders have already stopped taking applications for financing in amounts above $625,500.

The biggest short- and long-term challenges facing commercial real estate (CRE) relate to the large amount of debt maturing between now and 2015, said an executive with Deloitte.

Bank regulators have long kept state officials at arm's length, but the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is forging a close relationship with state attorneys general to enforce consumer banking laws.

Potential homebuyers are "spooked" by the stock market tumbling, the deficit mess in Washington and economic news, according to a Moody's Analytics (MA) economist.

Homebuyers are double dipping on available federal- and state-run mortgage finance programs, in some cases buying a home with a mortgage that requires virtually no down payment.

Cantor Fitzgerald analysts said in a report today that they expect Redwood Trust will be able to fund its growing pipeline and retained subordinate RMBS without having to raise equity anytime soon.

Fannie Mae continues to ratchet up its requests for seller/servicers to repurchase delinquent loans, while its smaller rival Freddie Mac has actually reduced its buyback claims over the past four quarters.

Sales of single-family existing home sales fell 4% in July after a 1% increase in June, but condominium sales were unchanged month over month, according to the National Association of Realtors (NAR).