Finance

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Friday, February 4, 2011, the Mortgage Bankers Association, (MBA) submitted the attached comment letter to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in response to FinCEN’s proposal to expand its anti-money laundering programs to help reduce mortgage fraud against lenders through a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) reporting requirement (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 1506-AB02).

San Diego, CA - February 7, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its year-end ranking of commercial and multifamily mortgage servicers as of the end of December 31, 2010. On top of the list of firms is Wells Fargo with $451.1 billion in U.S. master and primary servicing, followed by PNC Real Estate/Midland Loan Services with $337.4 billion, Berkadia Commercial Mortgage with $194.9 billion, Bank of America Merrill Lynch with $126.6 billion, and KeyBank Real Estate Capital with $118.9 billion

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- On Friday, February 4, 2011, the Mortgage Bankers Association, (MBA) submitted the attached comment letter to the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) in response to FinCEN’s proposal to expand its anti-money laundering programs to help reduce mortgage fraud against lenders through a Suspicious Activity Report (SAR) reporting requirement (Notice of Proposed Rulemaking 1506-AB02).

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Jamie Woodwell, Vice President of Commercial/Multifamily Research for the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), testified today before the Congressional Oversight Panel at a hearing titled, " Commercial Real Estate's Impact on Bank Stability."

WASHINGTON, DC – The apartment industry continues its broad-based recovery, according to the National Multi Housing Council's (NMHC) latest Quarterly Survey of Apartment Market Conditions.

Washington, DC - February 4, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Association of Realtors® applauds the Federal Housing Finance Agency for moving ahead with a proposed rule to restrict government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and the 12 Federal Home Loan Banks from investing in mortgages encumbered by private transfer fee covenants

McLean, VA - February 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) announced today that it had approximately $15 billion in volume for its multifamily whole loan and bond guarantee business (multifamily mortgage settlements), compared to almost $17 billion in 2009. This volume includes Freddie Mac’s targeted affordable housing products, which finance apartments that receive some form of government subsidy.

WASHINGTON, DC - February 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The National Multi Housing Council (NMHC) and the National Apartment Association (NAA) released the following statement concerning the Better Buildings Initiative announced by President Obama today. The statement was issued by NMHC/NAA's Vice President of Energy and Environment, Eileen Lee.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 28, 2011. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, increased 11.3 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index increased 13.2 percent compared with the previous week. The previous week did not include a holiday adjustment for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

WASHINGTON, D.C. - February 2, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- John A. Courson, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today issued the following statement in response to the Federal Reserve Board's announcement that it would not finalize three pending rulemakings under Regulation Z, which implements the Truth in Lending Act (TILA), prior to the transfer of authority for such rulemakings to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB).

Washington, DC - February 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- FHFA Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco today announced the agency will consolidate its three office locations into one, moving from Northwest, Washington, D.C. to Constitution Center at 400 Seventh St., Southwest. FHFA anticipates the move beginning in November 2011

McLean, VA - January 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Freddie Mac (OTC: FMCC) released the results of its fourth quarter 2010 cash-out refinance analysis.

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 31, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Eliminating the deductions for mortgage interest and real estate taxes would raise taxes disproportionately for middle-class households and make the tax system less progressive, according to a new study from the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).The study also concludes that the benefits of these deductions are collected primarily by middle-class taxpayers, with incomes between $50,000 and $200,000, and that greater benefits are earned by larger households and families, such as those with children

Washington, DC - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some ARM contracts, was 4.58 percent based on loans closed in November. This is an increase of 0.16 percent from the previous month.

DETROIT, MI - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Madison Theatre Building LLC, a new partnership formed by Dan Gilbert, Founder and Chairman of Detroit-based Quicken Loans Inc., announced it has completed the purchase of the historic Madison Building, located at 1555 Broadway Street in downtown Detroit. The building was originally designed by architect C. Howard Crane and constructed in 1917 as part of the Madison Theater complex.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today conducted its annual State of the Real Estate Finance Industry Media Conference Call. The call featured MBA representatives discussing the state of the industry, MBA's legislative and regulatory agenda for 2011 (including Dodd-Frank Act Implementation, GSE/secondary market reform, tax reform and residential loan servicing) and MBA's new three-year macro-economic and mortgage finance/housing forecasts.The speakers included: Michael Berman, Chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, John Courson, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, Jay Brinkmann, Senior Vice President and Chief Economist, Gail Cardwell, Senior Vice President of Commercial and Multifamily, Bill Killmer, Senior Vice President of Legislative and Political Affairs, and Steve O'Connor, Senior Vice President of Public Policy and Industry Relations.

NEW YORK, N.Y. - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Mortgage rates showed little movement again this week, with the benchmark conforming 30-year fixed mortgage rate nosing higher to 4.97 percent according to Bankrate.com's weekly national survey. The average 30-year fixed mortgage has an average of 0.44 discount and origination points.

Los Angeles, CA - January 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- CB Richard Ellis Group, Inc. (CBRE) has announced that Chris Ludeman will join Brian Stoffers as co-president of the firm’s Capital Markets businesses. In his expanded role, Mr. Ludeman will provide client-facing leadership for the company’s office, industrial and retail Investment Properties efforts along with its Institutional Group, Global Property Advisors and Private Client Group activities. Mr. Stoffers will continue to lead CBRE’s Debt and Equity Finance, agency and loan servicing businesses, as well as oversee the multi-housing, hotel/lodging and investment banking practices. Mr. Ludeman will continue as President, Americas Brokerage, overseeing CBRE’s tenant rep and agency leasing business lines

WASHINGTON, D.C. - January 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) today released its Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey for the week ending January 21, 2011. The Market Composite Index, a measure of mortgage loan application volume, decreased 12.9 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from one week earlier. On an unadjusted basis, the Index decreased 12.0 percent compared with the previous week. The results do not include an adjustment for the Martin Luther King holiday.

WASHINGTON, DC – Capitol Hill veteran Cindy Chetti has been named Senior Vice President of Government Affairs for the National Multi Housing Council (NMHC). She will be responsible for developing and implementing strategy for all legislative and regulatory issues of interest to NMHC and its joint legislative partner, the National Apartment Association.