Freddie Mac

Freddie Mac is bolstering its relationships with housing finance agencies after it fell short of reaching two affordable housing goals last year.

Modification activity increased slightly in January over December as servicers worked their way through the remaining Home Affordable Mortgage Program applications.

Mortgage rates are being pushed higher by the same economic factors that led the Federal Open Market Committee to increase short-term rates.

Freddie Mac is considering backing loans that finance single-family rental homes for the first time, mirroring a controversial transaction that Fannie Mae disclosed in January.

Freddie Mac is preparing a transaction that transfers credit risk on $640 million of super-conforming residential mortgages.

Mortgage interest rates increased 11 basis points over the previous week, reaching their highest level so far in 2017, according to Freddie Mac.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary-designate Ben Carson is open to finding alternatives to the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage, but believes there must be some government backstop to the housing market.