Freddie Mac

The mortgage giants were criticized earlier this month for a plan to charge an "adverse market fee" to protect against losses resulting from the pandemic.

The number of loans going into coronavirus-related forbearance decreased for the tenth straight week, but to a lesser degree than in previous weeks, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Meanwhile, July saw a record surge in existing-home sales, while mortgages in serious delinquency were on the rise

There were questions about the GSEs' use of structured credit risk transfers in the single-family market given an earlier pandemic-related market disruption.

Lenders initially won't be able to pass on the cost of the Federal Housing Finance Agency's "adverse market fee" to borrowers whose rates on GSE-backed mortgages and refinances are already locked in.

Mortgage rates crept up this week, nearly reaching the 3% mark as lenders raised prices because of a new fee, although purchase activity remained solid, according to Freddie Mac.

The number of loans going into coronavirus-related forbearance decreased for the ninth consecutive week, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Interest rates jumped from a new record low, while Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were widely panned for imposing a refinance fee.

The FHFA director’s move this week to impose an “adverse market fee” of 0.5% on most refinanced mortgages will shift billions out of the hands of American consumers and into the hands of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — and their private shareholders.

But the 30-year fixed remains below 3%, which should continue to support increased demand.

The new “adverse market fee” for refinanced mortgages resembles steps the companies took to combat the 2008 mortgage crisis. But critics charge it isn’t necessary and will hurt borrowers’ ability to tap into low rates.

In a letter to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the Mortgage Bankers Association recommended adding six more months to the latest GSE patch proposal.

The number of loans going into coronavirus-related forbearance was down for the eighth consecutive week, as the growth rate fell 23 basis points between July 27 and August 2, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The collateral pool consists of 59 loans for mostly older garden-style and mid-rise apartment buildings that have undergone recent upgrades and renovation.

Earnings reports out this week beat pessimistic expectations, but strained coronavirus relief negotiations in Congress cloud the outlook for what's ahead.

Whether mortgage rates continue to decline may depend on Friday’s job numbers.

The agency said property owners can enter into new or modified forbearance plans if they have a hardship due to the coronavirus, but the landlords must agree not to kick out renters solely for nonpayment of rent.

The mortgage servicing rights package going up for bid adds to signs that the market for large offerings is becoming more active.

The number of loans going into coronavirus-related forbearance fell for the seventh straight week, but the Mortgage Bankers Association predicts the rate will increase if the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise.

The size of the decline depends on how bad the economy sinks and if the coronavirus spread is halted.