Economy

But the Mortgage Bankers Association also raised the dollar volume that it predicts the purchase market will originate this year.

Fee hikes at the government-sponsored enterprises are one remedy, the government-sponsored enterprise's regulator noted in its annual report to Congress.

Unibail-Rodamco-Westfield is offering to exchange any and all of its €1.25 billion ($1.37 billion) notes, which currently pay a coupon of 2.125%, with a new bond paying 7.25% and a cash amount.

Multifamily properties account for the vast majority of the initial pool balance, at 86.2%, DBRS said, which is a plus because multifamily properties typically have lower default rates than other CMBS property types.

Economic analysis from the real estate advisory CBRE finds that community banks are particularly imperiled by their exposure to commercial real estate loans. Others see looming risks in indirect lending.

A change in investor sentiment toward an expected pause by the Fed in short-term rate hikes was the driving force behind the current surge, Freddie Mac said.

But when compared past periods of upheaval, those rates remain relatively low, the Mortgage Bankers Association report showed.

The beleaguered bank said it is selling 74 loans totaling about $2.6 billion to a subsidiary of Kennedy-Wilson Holdings. The move is part of a plan to pursue strategic asset sales, trim expenses and shore up its balance sheet.

While the mortgages from this Community Development Financial Institution lack income verification, the borrowers' credit is actually near prime, according to DBRS Morningstar.

During her opening remarks before lawmakers Tuesday, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency reiterated that borrowers with strong credit profiles are not being penalized to benefit those with poorer scores.