FHFA

The Federal Housing Finance Agency said it is reviewing compensation policies for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and requesting feedback from the public. Some have said the $600,000 limit for executives imposed by Congress makes it hard to find talent.

The government-sponsored enterprises have been returning to normal underwriting and are buying more loans than last year, but annual limits they have in place could become a concern.

For two decades, Alfred Pollard served as the general counsel for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s regulator. He had a front-row seat for the establishment of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the government’s subsequent seizure of the mortgage giants amid mounting losses in 2008 and the more recent legal dispute over the FHFA’s authority.

While last year’s high valuations protected the wealth embedded in consumer residences, a new report suggests that they can also be an indication of rising risk.

Groups active in low-income and rural housing expressed frustration that the post-pandemic resumption of long-term goal-setting didn’t do more to raise the bar.

Fannie and Freddie's regulator says the companies must comply with the new Qualified Mortgage standard by the summer, while the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has extended the deadline to 2022. The conflicting timetables have stoked uncertainty in the market.

The defendants face 133 felony counts that include allegedly stealing identities to commit mortgage fraud between 2014 and 2020, resulting in the theft of $15 million.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency is calling for input on how to better safeguard against potential lending risks associated with residential buildings filled with short-term rental units.

It would be available to homeowners making 80% or less of their area’s median income who weren't eligible to tap into low rates last year.

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mark Calabria said he wants to work with the consumer bureau on an “exit strategy” for borrowers approaching the end of their forbearance periods.