GSEs

The government-sponsored enterprises' changes to their representations and warranties regulations could increase lending, or cause taxpayer losses related to GSE purchases of bad loans. Here's why advocates like the move.

The U.S. housing market has improved modestly since the beginning of the year, according to Freddie Mac's latest Multi-Indicator Market Index.

Market participants are encouraged by the FHFA's move to ease repurchase requirements — which will likely result in a continued domination of the market by government agencies.

Home prices rose more than economists estimated in October as rising employment and falling interest rates boosted buyer demand.

Radian Group Inc. agreed to sell its bond guarantor to Assured Guaranty Ltd. for $810 million to free up capital as the company prepares for tighter oversight of mortgage insurance.

WASHINGTON — The Federal Housing Finance Agency said Monday it has approved the merger of the Federal Home Loan banks of Des Moines and Seattle, giving approval to the first voluntary combination in the history of the system.

Corporate landlords are benefiting from the worst rental-housing shortage in more than a decade as construction trails demand and more Americans opt to lease rather than buy.

Curt Culver has got a lot to keep him busy after he steps down as Mortgage Guaranty Insurance Corp.'s CEO, including serving on the board of his family's eponymous restaurant chain.

Purchases of previously owned homes dropped more than forecast in November as residential real estate struggles to sustain its recovery even as borrowing costs remain low.

Recent data from Freddie Mac has provided new insights into loan losses across different mortgage types, Fitch Ratings said in a press release Thursday.

Fannie Mae veteran Karen Pallotta has joined Redwood Trust's board of directors. Pallotta's recent role at Fannie was as executive vice president of the single-family credit guaranty business, which she assumed during the height of the financial crisis.

Yields on government-backed mortgage securities narrowed to the least relative to benchmark debt in more than two years, cushioning the blow of a slump in Treasuries for homebuyers.

The government conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac was never meant to authorize lasting control over the housing sector, according to one of the people who advised Congress on the Housing and Economic Recovery Act.

Mortgage rates declined, keeping borrowing costs at the lowest levels since May 2013.

Former Countrywide Financial Corp. executive Edward O'Donnell will get $57 million for his part in bringing a whistle-blower lawsuit against Bank of America Corp. which helped the U.S. force the lender to pay almost $16.7 billion to settle mortgage fraud charges.

Despite looser credit consumer demand has been on the decline, according to Fannie Mae's fourth-quarter Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey.

The Senate approved a bill late Tuesday that would retroactively extend over 50 expiring tax provisions for one years, including one that shields distressed homeowners from paying taxes on any mortgage debt forgiven in a short sale.

Bill Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, said he's added "meaningfully" to his bets on U.S. mortgage companies Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in the past two weeks.

The housing market will resume its recovery in 2015 after a "disappointing" year as sales accelerate, construction increases and mortgage credit eases.

More than two dozen Senate lawmakers signed a letter this week that urges the Federal Housing Finance Agency to drop its proposal to tighten Federal Home Loan Bank membership rules.