BLOG VIEW: If It Is Not Broken, Why Fix It?
When I was in high school, there was a bizarre incident that took place one day in an English class. Two of my...
REQUIRED READING: Increased REMIC Flexibility May Ease Loan Resolution
In recent years, many lenders have securitized their loans on commercial properties in real estate mortgage investment conduits (REMICs). A REMIC is a...
REQUIRED READING: Fed Leaders Spell Out Concerns For 2010
What can the mortgage banking industry expect in the new year? According to recent speeches offered by several leaders within the Federal Reserve...
PERSON OF THE WEEK: Jean Badciong On Next Year In Mortgage Banking
If anything, 2009 has not been a boring year - and 2010 promises to have its share of drama and excitement. This week,...
BLOG VIEW: Holiday Gifts For The Mortgage Banking Industry
If you are like me, you consider the year-end holiday season to be fairly stressful when it comes to buying gifts. In my...
REQUIRED READING: A Preview Of 2010 In Mortgage Banking
Predicting the future of any industry, especially one as complex as mortgage banking, can be challenging. So let's start with one of the...
REQUIRED READING: Outreach Equals Customer Retention
Since the foreclosure crisis began rearing its head years ago, one piece of advice has continually been directed servicing managers' way: Think proactively....
House Committee Gauges Covered-Bond Interest
Expert witnesses testifying before the House Financial Services Committee this week suggested that covered bonds, long-standing debt instruments in European markets for more...
PERSON OF THE WEEK: Adam Luysterborghs Looks To The Future
As we close out a difficult 2009 for the commercial mortgage industry and begin focusing on trends for 2010, MortgageOrb checked in with...
BLOG VIEW: Pow! Right In The Kisser!
Last week, the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) gave the condominium sector a harsh smack in the face. Okay, that might be a wee...
REQUIRED READING: Debunking The Myth Of The Tsunami
Google's 57,000 results for 'commercial real estate tsunami' feature a common figure and a common image. The figure is $3.4 trillion, the amount...
CMBS Issuances Unlikely To Spark Recovery… Yet
With the recent news of yet another commercial mortgage-backed securities (CMBS) issuance, is there cause for celebration in the commercial mortgage sector? JPMorgan...
REQUIRED READING: Why Reverse Mortgage Activity Will Rise, Despite A Down Market
Financial need, attractive demographics and friendlier government lending guidelines make reverse mortgages an appropriate loan product for the U.S.' growing senior population, even...
PERSON OF THE WEEK: Cheryl Lang On Strategic Defaulters, Borrower Incentives
This week, MortgageOrb caught up with Cheryl Lang, president of Integrated Mortgage Solutions, to get her thoughts on HAMP, strategic defaulters and borrower...
BLOG VIEW: Street Of Shame
Last week, Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, D.C., became something of a street of shame. At one end of the celebrated thoroughfare, efforts were...
BLOG VIEW: What’s In A Ratio?
Yesterday, two headlines in MortgageOrb.com's News section featured the same ratio, 3:1. One item was from HOPE NOW, which used 3:1 (technically, 'more...
REQUIRED READING: Freeze! A Winterization Refresher
Mandated winterization of homes has always been a part of the management of foreclosed properties. However, in today's economy, the length of time...
REQUIRED READING: Profiting From Distress: Opportunities Now Available
If you are a commercial real estate developer or investor in the market today, you have undoubtedly heard a great deal about distressed...
PERSON OF THE WEEK: Thomas J. Pinkowish On The State Of The Industry
When December rolls around, we inevitably pause to look back at where the year has taken us, while we simultaneously scan the near...
BLOG VIEW: A Solution Without A Problem?
I've interviewed Scott Stern, CEO of St. Louis-based Lenders One and the head of the recently created Community Mortgage Lenders of America, on...