GSEs

Freddie Mac has planned its first Extended Timeline Pool Offering, the government-sponsored entity announced this week.

Low interest rates may be pressuring margins, but they provided a lift to community banks that sell mortgage originations. Bankers are now debating how long the current refi boom will last.

The Department of Housing and Urban Development will revise its auctions of nonperforming mortgages to address concerns that the sales aren't doing enough to help homeowners in communities hurt by foreclosures.

In another escalation of Quicken Loans' ongoing clash with the government, the Department of Justice on Thursday filed a lawsuit alleging shoddy underwriting by the company.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency is sticking to its schedule and moving quickly to finalize proposed financial requirements for nonbank firms that service Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans.

Private-equity funds and hedge fund players have become more active buyers of mortgage-servicing rights as traditional investors withdraw from the market.

Bill Emerson, chief executive of Quicken Loans, said at a recent conference that the threat of government probes and a lack of regulatory clarity are making FHA lending less attractive.

Freddie Mac's latest sale of risk-sharing bonds, its biggest yet, was structured in a way that will help reduce the earnings volatility that's added to concerns that the mortgage giant may again need to tap taxpayer funds.

As banks have largely ceded the market for government-backed loans to nonbank lenders and servicers, it's fallen on Ginnie Mae to be sure that these nonbanks can meet their obligations to bondholders. It's a huge concern for President Ted Tozer, who says the company does not have the resources or manpower to examine these firms' finances.

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mel Watt just made one of the biggest policy decisions of his 14-month tenure — but so far it has hardly caused a ripple on Capitol Hill.

Some mortgage-bond investors are criticizing a change in Freddie Mac debt that increases the risk of loss from homeowners who can't afford their loans.

Rep. Patrick McHenry said Democrats' resistance to passing certain regulatory relief measures is due to a leftward shift.

The message being telegraphed is consistent: lenders have been on notice to upgrade compliance and strict adherence is now expected.

Radian Group Inc. and MGIC Investment Corp. surged in New York trading after a U.S. regulator softened mortgage insurers' standards on some loans.

The final rule outlining new criteria for private mortgage insurers of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans lacks a key feature that industry participants had sought: the ability to count future insurance premiums towards capital reserves.

Consumers may see little change in the ultimate cost of Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac loans despite a restructuring of certain loan fees announced Friday by the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

Interest rates remained stable as the real estate industry eyes the start of spring home-buying season, according to Freddie Mac.

FHFA's reduction appears likely to involve loan level price adjustments that the two government-sponsored enterprises charge borrowers and adverse market fees charged on every loan, but not a guarantee fee reduction that the industry has sought.

Beginning home construction rose less than forecast in March, indicating builders were slow to take advantage of favorable weather and underscoring a temperate housing recovery.

Mortgage loan application volume dropped 2.3% on a seasonally adjusted basis for the week ended April 10 versus the previous week, the Mortgage Bankers Association said.