GSEs

The new head of the agency regulating Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be at the forefront of reforming the housing finance system.

A bipartisan proposal would allow for the removal of the FHFA director if the agency approves CEO salary increases at Fannie and Freddie beyond $600,000.

Freddie Mac's latest nonperforming mortgage auction will include one pool targeted to smaller investors like nonprofit organizations.

Multifamily and commercial lenders had another banner year in 2018, when closed-loan originations rose 8% to a high of $574 billion.

HomeStreet Bank could receive nearly $190 million in total for selling $14 billion in mortgage servicing rights to New Residential and PennyMac, and selling its home loan centers to Homebridge.

B. Riley FBR initiated equity coverage on Fannie Mae as the chances for privatization of the government-sponsored enterprises improved in a housing finance reform package.

Housing finance reform could give banks an advantage and challenge nonbanks if it reduces Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's involvement in the mortgage market, according to Moody's Investors Service.

The administration official will serve a five-year term as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's chief regulator.

Mortgage lending standards loosened in March, as a swell in jumbo credit helped drive an expansion in availability for the third straight month, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

This time, investors required Radian to hold on to the first 2.5% of losses it covers on the pool; by comparison, the insurer’s previous deal, Eagle Re 2018-1, had a lower “attachment” point of 2.25%.