HousingWire, Jan. 4, 2017
The trend isn’t letting up as borrowers once again prove they are getting better at paying their mortgage on time, according to the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s 2016 third-quarter report on mortgages.
Category: Top National News
Ohio Becomes First State to Ban Plywood on Vacant Properties
HousingWire, Jan. 5, 2017–Lane, Ben
The fight against neighborhood blight took a giant step forward this week, as Ohio just became the first state to ban the use of plywood on vacant and abandoned properties.
Over $300 Million in HELOCs Sold
Mortgage Daily, Jan. 5, 2017
The transaction was announced Thursday by Mortgage Industry Advisory Corp., which placed the loans through its whole-loan desk.
Mall Rents Too Expensive, Hurting Macy’s, Other Department Stores: CNBC’s Jim Cramer
Phoenix Business Journal, Jan. 6, 2017–Sunnucks, Mike
CNBC analyst said mall and shopping center rents are a “substantial part” of the competitive problems facing Macy’s, Kohl’s and other brick-and-mortar department stores.
Vacancy Rates Rise at Shopping Centers
Wall Street Journal, Jan. 6, 2017–Fung, Esther
Vacancy rates in community shopping centers increased in 30 of 77 U.S. metro areas last year, compared with 24 in 2015 and 19 in 2014, according to data from real estate researcher Reis Inc.
Foreclosures Plummet, But Evictions Zoom
UExpress, Jan. 6, 2017–Sichelman, Lew
The foreclosure crisis that hurt so many homeowners may be waning, but now, more and more renters are facing eviction.
Credit Risk Transfer in a New World–The Waterfall of Risk Falls Squarely on Private Capital!
GoRion, Jan. 6, 2017–Schwartz, Faith
The call for a liquid safe and sound secondary mortgage market system should “Trump” any variations that do not ensure this is the case. And the GSE’s and FHFA have created the path forward on how to integrate CRT into the many variations of reform we may see in the upcoming administration.
Housing Advocates Praise Reduction of Mortgage Insurance Premiums
The Hill, Jan. 9, 2017–Needham, Vicki
HUD Secretary Julián Castro said the FHA will reduce the premiums for most borrowers by a quarter of a percent, dropping them to 0.60 from 0.85 for most new mortgages with a closing date on or after Jan. 27. MBA President and CEO David Stevens said the reduction is a good move but more work needs to be done to improve the FHA program.
Private M.I. Firms Unhappy With FHA Premium Cuts
Mortgage Daily, Jan. 9, 2017
Private mortgage insurance companies are annoyed at the Federal Housing Administration’s decision to lower mortgage insurance premiums.
OCC Terminates HSBC Mortgage Servicing Restrictions
HousingWire, Jan. 9, 2017–Swanson, Brena
The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency terminated its mortgage servicing-related order against HSBC Bank USA, lifting restrictions placed on the bank over its failure to comply with requirements of the Independent Foreclosure Review.