GSEs

Borrowing costs for U.S. homebuyers may be falling again, thanks to Greece's woes, but not as much as they could be.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency wants to exclude mortgage REITs from membership in the Federal Home Loan Banks. That would be a major setback for the entry-level borrowers who depend on mortgage REITs for sustainable home-financing options.

A survey of mortgage lending executives conducted by mortgage insurance company Genworth found that most executives believe that a disconnect exists between lenders and borrowers on who qualifies for a mortgage.

U.S. regulators have told Royal Bank of Scotland Group it could pay as much as $13 billion if it loses a lawsuit over its handling of mortgage securities.

Mortgage rates rose, sending the average for 30-year loans to the highest since October.

The Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights wants to recapitalize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to provide a secure source of funding for affordable housing.

The chief executive officers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac may see more than a sixfold increase in their compensation to $4 million in spite of objections from President Obama's administration and some lawmakers.

The narrowing gap between what large and small lenders pay in guarantee fees to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has helped the industry's smallest originators grow their share of mortgages sold to the government-sponsored enterprises.

FHFA report shows FHLBs are well capitalized while Fannie and Freddie continue to see improving loan performance.

Mortgage rates barely budged from a week ago, even though reports have shown that the housing market is on the rebound with interest rates expected to rise.

Two groups representing small and mid-size lenders say new proposed state mortgage servicing standards for nonbanks will add an unnecessary layer of regulatory burden, especially for firms servicing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.

Freddie Mac's latest monthly Multi-Indicator Market Index shows a weak but improving housing sector.

The price of homes rose 0.3% in April from the previous month, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Fannie Mae will no longer charge mortgage lenders to submit loans to its Desktop Underwriter automated underwriting system, a decision that follows a similar move by Freddie Mac earlier this month.

Purchases of new homes rose in May to the highest level in seven years, signaling the industry is gaining momentum heading toward the second half of the year.

Previously owned homes sold in May at the fastest pace since November 2009, driven by first-time buyers and indicating budding momentum in the residential real estate market.

Ginnie Mae's issuance of mortgage-backed securities exceeded Fannie Mae's issuance in May for the first time since the late 1980s.

Mortgage rates dropped as Europeans worrying about a Greek default beefed up investments in American mortgage-backed bonds.

Optimism abounds in Fannie Mae's survey of mortgage lenders for the second quarter of 2015.

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