As the Federal Reserve prepares to lower interest rates later this year, mortgage rates might not decrease quickly given that demand for mortgages and mortgage-backed securities remains muted compared to pre-2022 levels. This decreased demand,...
Read MoreIncreased loan putbacks from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have led to increased “scratch-and-dent loans” securitization issuance. These loans were returned to their originators for reasons like missing documentation, mortgage-insurance issues, or incorrect debt-to-income ratio...
Read MoreThe Wall Street Journal reports that 2023 saw only 3.5% of office building sales coming from distressed sellers, based on MSCI Real Assets analysis. Of the $35.8 billion of office loans that came due in...
Read MoreBloomberg News reports that growing issuance of Synthetic Risk Transfers (SRTs), used by large banks to manage regulatory capital requirements, had been expected to surge this year. However, Fed Chair Jerome Powell’s recent testimony on...
Read MoreThe National Association of Realtors (NAR) has agreed to settlement terms in litigation over how buyers’ agents are paid in the sale of residential property. Under the proposal, buyers’ agents would need to present services...
Read MoreOn March 19, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit published its decision in Consumer Financial Protection Bureau v. National Collegiate Student Loan Trust, et al. The Third Circuit held that (1)...
Read MoreOn March 6, Fed Chair Jerome Powell testified before the House Financial Services Committee, followed by the Senate Banking Committee on March 7. In his semi-annual report to Congress, Powell addressed questions regarding macroeconomic activity...
Read MoreAccording to the Wall Street Journal, 14% of U.S. commercial real estate (CRE) lending is securitized in commercial-backed securities (CMBS), making default rates and building valuations available as a proxy for less accessible information on...
Read MoreSales of annuities, financial products often purchased by consumers approaching retirement age, hit a record $385 billion in sales in 2023 with higher interest rates promising larger potential monthly payments to policyholders. To align with...
Read MoreThe year in CLOs started off with the highest January on record; 33 deals totaling nearly $14 billion. The robust activity stems from improved deal economics as credit risk spreads have tightened from wider levels....
Read MoreDespite a trend of stricter standards in the 4th quarter for most loan types, the January 2024 Senior Loan Officer Opinion Survey on Bank Lending Practices (SLOOS) indicated a decrease in the number of banks...
Read MoreCredit is becoming more accessible in the U.S. as Treasury yields drop, making borrowing easier for businesses and individuals. Investor expectations, despite no rate cuts by the Federal Reserve, contribute to lower Treasury yields and...
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