1. Housing Market Is Economy's Bright And Shining Star But What Will Fix The Housing Finance System?
(Matching tags: economy,mortgage debt,banks)

... There’s still the matter of what to do about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. And the majority government ownership of mortgage loans still inhibits private sector lending. ...

2. Recent Research Speculates On The Real Effects Of The Rebounds In The Stock And Housing Markets On Household Wealth
(Matching tags: Economic Outlook,mortgage debt,economic indicators)

How much value has been returned to US companies trading on US stock exchanges since stocks hit their lows four years ago? Think $10 trillion.   But has that figure along with the resurgent ...

3. Justice Department Aims To Sue S&P For Fraudulent Mortgage Bond Ratings Leading Up To 2008 Crisis
(Matching tags: credit downgrade,mortgage debt,S&P)

The US Justice Department plans to sue Standard & Poors ratings agency for fraudulently rating mortgage bonds that led to the 2008 financial crisis.   There have been continued questions ...

4. Stronger-Than-Thought-Possible Housing Market Recovery Is Helping Underwater Homeowners Climb Out From Under
(Matching tags: Federal Reserve,mortgage debt,Economic Outlook)

The market crash of the mortgage market in 2008 cost many homeowners years of equity in their homes, causing many to owe more than their homes were worth.   Now the economic recovery is making ...

5. New Mortgage Lending Rules To Be Announced January 10 That Will Distinguish Qualified And Unqualified Mortgages
(Matching tags: Dodd-Frank,banks,mortgage debt)

Mortgage lenders will hear new consumer protection rules to be announced on Thursday, January 10, that prohibit them from offering deceptive teaser rates and requiring no documentation from would-be ...

6. Current Refinance Program For Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac Mortgages May Be Extended To Loans Originated By Private Lenders
(Matching tags: mortgage debt,economy,Economic Outlook)

The Obama administration is considering extending its aid to home borrowers beyond those with government-backed mortgages.   This would free up cash for borrowers and stimulate the economy. ...

7. Banks May Get Litigation Protection As Regulators Revamp Mortgage Lending Rules
(Matching tags: banks,mortgage debt,regulation)

Regulators are revamping the rules that govern the way banks make mortgage loans. In the process, they’re making it harder for homeowner to sue them.   The rules are designed to bolster ...

8. Banks Increase Home Seizure Rate For The First Time In Two Years As They Manage Flow Of Foreclosures Without Disrupting Housing Market Recovery
(Matching tags: banks,mortgage debt,economy)

Banks are seizing more homes through the foreclosure process as they try to manage the flow of distressed properties without causing too much disruption in the recovery of the housing market.   ...

9. Fed Ties Stimulus To Unemployment Rate Target For The First Time, Extends Bond-Buying Program, And Gets Closer To Exhausting Its Ability To Participate In The Mortgage Market
(Matching tags: Federal Reserve,economy,mortgage debt)

The Fed for the first time tied its policy of holding interest rates to near zero to a target unemployment rate after its meeting on December 12.   Interest rates will stay at historic lows ...

10. New Wave Of Litigation Tied To 2008 Crisis Threatens Banks' Profitability...And Economic Recovery
(Matching tags: banks,mortgage debt,investor behavior)

As if US banks didn’t have enough troubles, a new wave of lawsuits related to the 2008 mortgage crisis is about to hit. Banks have paid tens of billions of dollars to settle lawsuits claiming banks ...

11. Housing Is An Area That's Leading The Economy Back But That Doesn't Mean It's Sustainable; The Government Is Still Involved In Nine Out Of Ten Transactions
(Matching tags: mortgage debt,U.S. economy,markets)

The housing crisis proved that the secondary mortgage market is broken. The government is still involved in nine out of every 10 transactions.   The government bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie ...

12. Short Sales Of Homes Increases In Anticipation Of Fiscal Cliff; Expiration Of 2007 Mortgage Forgiveness Debt Relief Act Could Add Another Threat To The Economy
(Matching tags: mortgage debt,Economic Outlook,Congress)

As the expiration date for current tax laws grows nearer, the number of short sales for homes is increasing. Foreclosure sales dropped 20% during the third quarter while short sales increased 35%.

13. Predicted Flood Of Delinquent Homes Has Failed To Materialize; Instead, Burgeoning Demand Counters Short Supply
(Matching tags: mortgage debt,banks,economy)

The scandal that pointed to faulty foreclosure practices resulted in banks pulling back on pursuing foreclosures.   Market researchers, Wall Street analysts, and academics all predicted that ...

14. Improved Housing Market May Enable Fannie Mae And Freddie Mac To Repay Tax Payers Sooner
(Matching tags: Economic Outlook,debt,mortgage debt)

The improvement in the housing market will cause Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to start repaying their bailout loan to taxpayers sooner than originally projected.

15. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau May Create First-Time Standard For Qualified Mortgages, Offering A Safe Harbor For Smaller Lenders
(Matching tags: regulation,mortgage debt,economy)

The financial markets are not the only focus of new regulation. Mortgage lenders, the not-so-sub-prime suspect in the 2008 financial crisis, may get a boost from federal regulators by giving them protection ...

16. Housing Rebound May Be Cramped By Forced Take-Backs Of Loans Banks Sold To Fannie And Freddie
(Matching tags: banks,mortgage debt,economy)

The housing market may be improving but there’s still the issue of who ends up with the bad loans made during the boom years. Interest rates on mortgages continue to move lower—the average ...

17. Benefits Of Freddie Mac's New Plan To Boost Housing Sector Debatable
(Matching tags: mortgage debt,economy,U.S. economy)

Freddie Mac is trying to augment the housing market’s recovery by making loans to investors wishing to buy foreclosure properties and rent them out.

18. Fed Doesn't Just Answer The Call To Action, It Answers It In A Big And Unprecedented Way
(Matching tags: Federal Reserve,mortgage debt,Treasury bonds,U.S. economy)

The markets got what they wanted and in historic fashion as the Federal Open Market Committee meeting concluded Thursday, September 13. Action was anticipated and action was delivered—in a big ...

19. Housing Market Is Improving Over A Broader Base As Supply Begins To Catch Up With Demand
(Matching tags: economic indicators,mortgage debt,U.S. economy)

In a sign that the housing market may indeed lead the US economic recovery, home prices posted their first year-over-year positive comparison in almost two years. Supply is drying up and demand is strengthening. ...

20. State Insurance Regulators May Require Larger Capital Reserves For Insurors Who Purchase High Interest-Rate Mortgage Debt
(Matching tags: mortgage debt,risk,investment strategies)

Insurors in the US have been scooping up high interest-rate mortgage bonds. These bonds tend to carry more risk so state insurance regulators are coming forth with new rules requiring insurors who purchase ...