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Washington, DC - February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency on Jan. 18 announced a joint initiative to consider alternatives for a new mortgage servicing compensation structure. As part of that effort, FHFA has established a dedicated web link to post information, including background materials and issues for consideration

WASHINGTON, DC - February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the Federal Housing Administration’s (FHA) capital reserves, FHA Commissioner David H. Stevens today announced a new premium structure for FHA-insured mortgage loans increasing its annual mortgage insurance premium (MIP) by a quarter of a percentage point (.25) on all 30- and 15-year loans. The upfront MIP will remain unchanged at 1.0 percent. This premium change was detailed in President Obama’s fiscal year 2012 budget, also released today, and will impact new loans insured by FHA on or after April 18, 2011.

McLean, VA - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today announced its first ever offering of Structured Pass-Through Certificates (“K Certificates”) backed only by multifamily mortgages with a 7-year term. The company expects to offer approximately $861 million in K Certificates (“K-701 Certificates”), which are expected to price the week of February 21, 2011, and settle on or about March 9, 2011

Washington, D.C. - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Securities and Exchange Commission today charged three former senior executives at IndyMac Bancorp with securities fraud for misleading investors about the mortgage lender’s deteriorating financial condition.

Washington, DC - February 14, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of REALTORS® welcomes the Obama Administration’s call for an orderly transition from the current form of the secondary mortgage market to a new structure that would enable Americans to achieve affordable, sustainable mortgages

WASHINGTON, DC - February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Today, the Obama Administration delivered a report to Congress that provides a path forward for reforming America's housing finance market. The Administration's plan will wind down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and shrink the government's current footprint in housing finance on a responsible timeline. The plan also lays out reforms to continue fixing the fundamental flaws in the mortgage market through stronger consumer protection, increased transparency for investors, improved underwriting standards, and other critical measures. Additionally, it will help provide targeted and transparent support to creditworthy but underserved families that want to own their own home, as well as affordable rental options.

Washington, D.C. - February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) — The Administration’s options for mortgage finance reform released today include choices that could threaten consumers’ access to affordable mortgage credit to buy homes by severely constricting the government’s historic role in supporting affordable, long term credit, and on shifting control of the mortgage market to Wall Street banks and investors whose previous missteps have already caused massive foreclosures and losses for consumers and communities

Washington, D.C. - February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) — The Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA) today said that the nation’s housing finance system must continue to provide a variety of finance options to meet the needs of different consumers, housing types and locations. Following the release of the Obama administration’s plan on housing finance, ICBA reminded policymakers that a stable secondary market for residential mortgages is essential to community banks and Main Street America, while also stressing completely privatizing the secondary mortgage market would have ruinous effects both on community banks and the customers they serve.

February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Thursday, February 10, 2011, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) submitted the attached comment letter to Edward DeMarco, Acting Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) calling for an extension of the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) that allows underwater borrowers who loans are owned by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and who are current on their mortgages, to take advantage of the current low interest rates to refinance their loans. MBA recommends that the program, currently slated to expire at the end of June, be extended to the end of December, 2012 to coincide with the expiration of the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP)

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Michael D. Berman, CMB, Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), today issued the following statement in response to the Obama Administration’s release of a white paper outlining potential approaches to reforming the government’s role in the secondary mortgage market.

McLean, VA – The Administration should be commended for the considerable thought and effort it put into its plan to reform America's housing finance system. Clearly they understand the key issues and the need for private sector capital to return to the housing market. We at Freddie Mac will continue enhancing our infrastructure, business processes and technology to become the kind of stronger, more efficient company that can play a productive role no matter what policymakers decide about our future

WASHINGTON, DC - February 11, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- For the first time, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development today published the most authoritative analysis of the extent and nature of homelessness among Veterans. According to HUD and VA’s assessment, nearly 76,000 Veterans were homeless on a given night in 2009 while roughly 136,000 Veterans spent at least one night in a shelter during that year.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The advance fee ban under the FTC’s Mortgage Assistance Relief Services (MARS) Rule is designed to protect financially distressed homeowners from mortgage relief scams that have sprung up during the mortgage crisis.

Columbia, MD - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Enterprise Community Investment, Inc. (Enterprise ), a national leader in affordable housing and community development, today announced that Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) has given the company approval to originate affordable multifamily loans nationally on its behalf.

McLean, VA - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) which shows long- and short-term rates rising this week.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 10, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Continued government participation in the secondary mortgage market is essential to ensuring affordable and available home mortgages to qualified consumers when private lenders withdraw from the market, according to the National Association of Realtors®’ recommendations for restructuring the government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs)

Orlando, FL - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Joseph A. Smith, Jr., North Carolina Commissioner of Banks, will address the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System and Registry (NMLS) User Conference & Training today on the future of state mortgage regulation

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending February 4, 2011. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 5.5 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 3.9 percent compared with the previous week.

San Diego, CA - February 9, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today awarded Catherine Rodewald, Vice President of Prudential Mortgage Capital Company, with the CREF Distinguished Service Award at the Association's 21st Annual Commercial Real Estate Finance (CREF)/Multifamily Housing Convention & Expo held in San Diego, CA. The award was given to Rodewald in recognition of her dedication and prominent service to MBA and the mortgage lending industry.

ATLANTA, GA - February 8, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Real Estate Mortgage Network, Inc. (REMN), a national mortgage lender based in River Edge, N.J., announced today the appointment of Greg Janicki to the position of southeast regional manager. Janicki will be reporting to Rick Floyd, REMN’s managing director of retail sales and will oversee a team of more than 100 people across REMN’s Georgia and Florida branches