Paul Ryan Favors Dissolving Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac" alt="Paul Ryan Favors Dissolving Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac" />

By Jon Prior A Mitt Romney administration plan for a future housing finance system likely shuns any form of a government guarantee, based on the Republican presidential candidate's choice of Rep. Paul Ryan as a running mate. The Republican congressman from Wisconsin, who heads the House Budget Committee, released a ... Continue Reading »

Chase Bank Offering No Doc Refis, Principal Reduction" alt="Chase Bank Offering No Doc Refis, Principal Reduction" />

By Jon Prior JPMorgan Chase went from fast-tracking foreclosures to rubber stamping and pre-approving some borrowers for refinances and even principal reduction. The five largest mortgage servicers signed a $25 billion deal with federal prosecutors and 49 state attorneys general in March to settle foreclosure abuses ... Continue Reading »

Mortgage Refinancing Activity Reaches 3-Year High" alt="Mortgage Refinancing Activity Reaches 3-Year High" />

By Kerri Ann Panchuk The number of mortgage applications filed in the U.S. edged up a slight 0.9 percent for the week ending July 20 as refinance activity hit a three-year high, an industry trade group said. The Mortgage Bankers Association noted its refinance index grew 2 percent from the previous week, its highest ... Continue Reading »

Homebuilder Confidence Posts Largest 1-Month Jump in a Decade" alt="Homebuilder Confidence Posts Largest 1-Month Jump in a Decade" />

By Kerri Ann Panchuk Homebuilder confidence rose six points in July, its steepest one-month increase in over a decade, according to a new report from the National Association of Home Builders. The NAHB released the Housing Market Index that it compiled in tandem with Wells Fargo on Tuesday. The report shows the Home ... Continue Reading »

Probe: FHLBanks Violated Unsecured Credit Limits" alt="Probe: FHLBanks Violated Unsecured Credit Limits" />

By Justin T. Hilley Several Federal Home Loan Banks violated regulatory credit limits in 2010 and 2011, even as the risks associated with doing so intensified, according to a recent federal investigation. The Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General found that FHLBanks substantially increased ... Continue Reading »