Jumbo mortgage volume is very dependent on location. So what are borrowers in high cost areas thinking when it comes to obtaining a jumbo loan? Linda Stern of Reuters reminds us that conforming loan limit caps for high cost areas will be reduced from $729,750 to $625,500 effective October 1, and says that some borrowers
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Future of Fannie & Freddie January is scheduled to be a big month for Freddie and Fannie, in that the Treasury is expected to release plans for their future. Merrill Lynch released some conjecture about upcoming news, which will probably come out after the State of the Union address on 1/25. Merrill reminds us that
Reshuffling Of Fed Members Is the economy really in good enough shape for the Fed to start selling their $1.25 trillion of mortgage-backed securities? I don’t think so, but maybe the press doesn’t have enough else to talk about, so the Fed possibly lightning up on their balance sheet has been receiving some publicity. Federal
NAR’s Proposal for Fannie/Freddie My daughter and I went through the McDonald’s take-out window and I gave the clerk a $5 bill. Our total was $4.25, so I also handed her a quarter. She said, “You gave me too much money.” I said, “Yes I know, but this way you can just give me a
Mortgage Rate/Lock Update A small boy swallowed some coins and was taken to a hospital. His grandmother telephoned to ask how he was, a nurse said, “No change yet.” We started off the week with both the stock and bond markets making a little change for investors: both improved. The folks on Wall Street, if
ARMs Only 3% Of Total Agency Loans In 2009 An annual report on the ARM market published by Freddie Mac shows adjustable-rate mortgages accounted for just 3 percent of all conventional home purchase loans in 2009. That’s the smallest percentage for ARMs since at least 1982. Market & Economic News Update Yes, today we have
Treasury’s Unlimited Fannie/Freddie Backing, Buffett To Buy Mortgage Firm?, Light Economic Data Week
Treasury’s Unlimited Fannie/Freddie Backing Regardless of whether or not it is good or bad for our industry, or the debate about the timing of the announcement, on Christmas Eve the U.S. Treasury agreed to provide Fannie & Freddie unlimited capital as needed over the next three years. It is an effort to reassure the investors
Seven More Banks Fail, 2009 Tally At 140 Wanna buy a bank? Now is a good time to give that someone special a little something special – like a failed bank. Seven U.S. banks were taken over on Friday, and the FDIC could not find buyers for three of them. It brings the total to
What is every mortgage bank’s nightmare? Some out there wake up in a cold sweat thinking about the Fed stopping their purchase program, leading to higher rates, the production volumes sink to half of what they are now, the company hasn’t set aside any money for a rainy day, and they’re hit with MI rescissions
“Keep skunks and bankers at a distance” so the old saying goes. Mortgage bankers may have to ignore that saying, however, given some National Mortgage News data that shows that four companies (Wells Fargo, Bank of America Home Loan, JPMorgan Chase, and Citigroup) control almost 58% of the overall lending market. Wells was the largest
I sure am happy that I am not working in the mortgage business anymore! First, Bank of America won a restraining order barring Colonial Bank from selling or otherwise disposing of $1 billion in cash and loans held by Colonial. Colonial, who most think will be taken over by the FDIC any day now (and
It is well known that big investors, who are servicing large portfolios of home equity loans, are seeing increasing delinquencies. If home equity loans start having more major problems, is the US Government going to come out with HEMP (Home Equity Modification Program)? (I can’t take credit for that one – it came from Rich
Recently several people were seriously injured during the Running of the Bulls in Pamplona. As it turns out, unleashing angry bulls onto a narrow crowded city street is dangerous. Incredible! Speaking of danger, how about this economy? The volatility has certainly increased, with one day rates going up because “the worst is behind us” and
Home Appraisal Issues I overheard the kids last night talking about doing chores. My daughter said, “If we stop dusting, we could use the coffee table for a message board!” Speaking of message boards, I have seen a few analysts state that they believe property appraisals are keeping a lid on values. More precisely, when
All eyes were on the radiant bride as her father escorted her down the aisle. They reached the altar and the waiting groom. The bride kissed her father and placed something in his hand. The guests in the front pews responded with ripples of laughter and even the priest smiled broadly. As her father gave
Obviously the Mortgage Banker’s conference hasn’t hit Disneyland quite yet. Good Economy Equals Bad Rates You just can’t make this stuff up! Eugenio J. Aleman, senior economist at Wells Fargo stated that “The Biggest Risk Today is an Economic Recovery”. Once again, anyone in the mortgage business wonders which evil they’d rather have: a stalled
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