Alt-A Delinquencies Fall For Second Straight Month - Fitch
Alt-A Delinquencies Fall For Second Straight Month - Fitch
Associated Press, June 7, 2010
Delinquencies among alt-A residential mortgages packaged into residential mortgage-backed securities dropped in May — extending a decline that began a month earlier when the rate fell for the first time in four years, according to Fitch Ratings. Alt-A RMBS delinquencies decreased to 33.9 percent in May from 34.1 percent in April. A year earlier, they were at 28.3 percent. Fitch said last month that delinquencies in April dropped month over month for the first time since April 2006.
BofA to Pay $108 Million in FTC Case
BusinessWeek, June 7, 2010
Countrywide Financial Corp., the mortgage company bought by Bank of America Corp., will pay $108 million to settle U.S. claims it charged excessive fees to struggling home buyers. The Federal Trade Commission announced the settlement today involving more than 200,000 consumers at a news conference, describing the penalty as one of the largest in the agency’s history.
Senate Passes Anti-deficiency Bill for Homeowner Protection
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, June 5, 2010
Homeowners who refinanced their original home loans will have less reason to fear banks knocking on their doors for repayment if a bill passed recently by the state Senate becomes law. The passage of S.B. 1178, adopted by a 30-4 vote in the Senate, would prevent lenders from making borrowers personally liable for any difference between the value of a foreclosed property and the amount owed to the lender. Although this "anti-deficiency" law is already in place for homeowners who default on their mortgages, the protection does not extend to those who have refinanced their home loans.
Tax-Credit Hangover: Here Come the Builder Price Cuts
Wall Street Journal, June 7, 2010
Builders, who ramped up speculative construction to take advantage of the federal home buyer tax credit, won’t know until he credit ends this month how many extra homes they have. But they’re already cutting prices and offering deals to move inventory. Beazer Homes USA, is offering up to $50,000 in free design options on some houses. Lennar Corp., which already slashed more than 15 percent off of some Las Vegas inventory, is currently offering a 3.99 percent mortgage rate “fixed for life.” DR Horton touts the “The Great American Home Sale” on June 12 and 13. The sector giant provides no further detail.