Snappy newsletters. Simple Facebook sharing. Spirited comments. Sweet features are waiting… GET THEM NOW!

Smaller Lenders Feel the Credit Squeeze

Boutique banks on the edge as liquidity crisis wears on

By Heather McPherson,  Newser User

Posted Aug 15, 2007 11:03 AM CDT

(Newser) – As the subprime fallout continues and the credit squeeze tightens, thousands of smaller-scale mortgage banks find themselves in dire straits. The Wall Street Journal reports that small- and medium-sized lenders, even those with excellent credit quality, are suspending funding and laying off employees, which leaves giant corporations to grab more of the (shaky) market.

The Journal dissects the case of Thornburg Mortgage, a respected lender specializing in loans too big to be sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two government-sponsored investors. Buyers of mortgage securitiess are so terrified they won't touch anything that "Fannie and Freddie" cannot guarantee. The result: Thornburg liquidity is drying up, and its stock price dropped 47% in just one day.

A sign advertises a bank repossessed home for sale in San Clemente, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007. The Federal Reserve, trying to calm turmoil on Wall Street, announced Friday, Aig. 10, 2007 that it will pump as much money as needed into the U.S. financial system to help overcome...
A sign advertises a bank repossessed home for sale in San Clemente, Calif., Sunday, Aug. 5, 2007. The Federal Reserve, trying to calm turmoil on Wall Street, announced Friday, Aig. 10, 2007 that it will...   (Associated Press)
Thornburg Mortgage, whose stock price collapsed yesterday.
Thornburg Mortgage, whose stock price collapsed yesterday.   (Thornburg)
Construction workers finish up their day at Saguaro Estates Toll Brothers luxury home development, in this May 23, 2007 file photo, in Scottsdale, Ariz.  Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers Inc. said Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007 it expects to report a 21 percent decline in third-quarter homebuilding revenue, and cautioned that mortgage...
Construction workers finish up their day at Saguaro Estates Toll Brothers luxury home development, in this May 23, 2007 file photo, in Scottsdale, Ariz. Luxury homebuilder Toll Brothers Inc. said Wednesday,...   (Associated Press)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
To report an error on this story, notify our editors.
A snapshot of the day's best news stories.
 
COMMENTS
Be the first to comment on this story.

More Newser Stories

Taxpayers Footed Fannie, Freddie's $160M Legal Bill

Biggest Buyers Hit Hard in Mortgage Fiasco

$26B Mortgage Settlement a 'Modest' Help: Experts

White House: Let's Kill Fannie, Freddie

Fannie/Freddie: It's Bad, but It Could Be Worse


NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS
Other Sites We Like:   24/7 Wall St.   |   Betty Confidential   |   BuzzFeed   |   Cracked   |   Fark   |   Timelines   |   The Frisky   |   Geek Sugar   |   NewsOne