RMBS

Recovery in the housing market, and the economy at large, is dependent on what the government does — and doesn't do — to influence the recuperation, according to a panel of economic observers at a real estate conference in New York.

Mortgage firms initiated a record 3.8 million in foreclosure-related actions in 2010, including filing notices of default, scheduling auctions, and repossessing homes according to new figures released by RealtyTrac, Irvine, Calif.

The American Bankers Association (ABA) is urging banking regulators to tailor the qualified residential mortgage (QRM) standard so that the majority of loans originated by depository institutions are exempt from risk retention.

Homebuilder Lennar Corp. promoted Rick Beckwitt to president from executive vice president. Stuart Miller will remain chief executive officer of the company.

Despite reports to the contrary, Rep. Scott Garrett said Republicans still intend to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac after a suitable transition.

Mortgage rates declined for the second straight week and are at their lowest level in five weeks.

For decades, mortgage servicers handling Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans have been paid a set minimum rate for every dollar of performing loans they tend.

Housing and mortgage trade groups are concerned that federal regulators will propose a narrow exemption to MBS risk retention rules that would impose high capital requirements on plain vanilla mortgages, making them unnecessarily expensive for creditworthy borrowers.

Moody's Investors Service said in a report that the Bank of America settlement with the GSEs does not address the uncertainty around claims by monoline insurers and private label investors.

Mortgage application activity increased 2.2% in the week ending Jan. 7 as refinancing activity picked up.