FHFA

The move confirms speculation that the Federal Housing Finance Agency would return to a pre-pandemic plan to tighten requirements for mortgage lenders and servicers that work with two government-sponsored enterprises.

The mention echoes previous recommendations to give the Federal Housing Finance Agency more authority over non-depositories that service loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

In an open letter to Sandra L. Thompson, President Biden’s nominee for Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, two longtime advocates of the Federal Home Loan banks suggest a new path forward.

Former principal economist at the Federal Housing Finance Agency Paul Manchester breaks down how the targets have been calculated and discusses the implications for the set determined for 2022 to 2024.

In a Senate confirmation hearing, the acting Federal Housing Finance Agency director echoed her predecessor’s view that restructuring of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should fall to Congress, and pointed to measures aimed at mitigating risk for the agencies.

The government-sponsored enterprise also unveiled two new tranche slices for investors to purchase.

While some in the industry support the change, mortgage broker trade group AIME called on the agency to reconsider it.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency should consider allowing small depositories — those defined by regulators to be below $10 billion in total assets — to again make use of structured transactions for seasoned, performing loans, writes the chairman of Whalen Global Advisors.

Acting Director Sandra Thompson said the Federal Housing Finance Agency is considering changes to the risk-based fees that critics say have disproportionately hurt minority borrowers of low down-payment loans.

While the Biden Administration has issued a series of measures to encourage the production of more affordable housing, municipalities must changing their zoning or other restrictive laws to facilitate additional development, writes the Chairman and CEO of Walker & Dunlop

The targets set by the rule pitched last month would be reduced from recent performance levels for non-minority low-income census tracts, reducing the incentive for the GSEs to purchase mortgages for families in these areas, writes a former principal economist from the Federal Housing Finance Agency.

The biggest issues facing the mortgage industry involve public policy and all of them feature a political narrative that is ill-informed and largely at odds with market realities, Whalen writes.

The White House and the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced steps to help nonprofits and public agencies buy foreclosed properties, among other initiatives, as part of a plan to boost supply over the next three years.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency in the Trump administration had been preoccupied with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s capital position. Acting Director Sandra Thompson has shifted the agency’s focus to affordable housing and fair lending.

This year's assessment for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is the first to take into account a January agreement between the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Treasury Department that allowed the companies to retain more earnings.

The Federal Housing Administration, the agency that oversees government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the VA extended additional relief to those living in single-family rental, real-estate owned properties.

Two large government-sponsored enterprises added a notification period for tenants in collateral properties on Wednesday while a trade group and public agencies stepped up efforts to connect renters with aid.

Ensuring the safety and soundness of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan banks is the core responsibility of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. That shouldn't change now that the president has the authority to fire the FHFA's director at will.

The adverse market fee change could contribute to an increase in refinance volume, adds Mortgage Bankers Association economist Mike Fratantoni.

The agency’s new chief said eliminating the “adverse market fee” — in place since December — will make it easier for families to refinance while mortgage rates are still low.