Housing downturn indicates opportunities in Default, REO

While loan originations are down and subprime lenders and those that invested in the loans they orignated are feeling pressure, there are opportunities in the troubled mortgage market.

Hedge funds are looking for distressed loan pools. Analytics firms that monitor leading indicators of at-risk mortgage are seeing a brisk business. The default management divisions at First American Financial (NYSE: FAF), and Fidelity National Financial (NYSE: FNF) are experiencing record volume in their loss mitigation and other related services.