Mike Crapo

Measures designed to give banks and credit unions more flexibility to help customers weather the coronavirus pandemic are set to expire Dec. 31 unless Congress renews them.

Some lawmakers fear that when forbearance plans and enhanced unemployment coverage expire, the consequences for mortgage borrowers still affected by the pandemic will be severe.

Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told senators that the central bank is willing to explore a credit-sensitive interest benchmark in addition to the secured overnight financing rate, which some banks say could cause problems during economic stress.

The head of the Senate Banking Committee invited the housing secretary to Idaho to discuss low-income housing shortages.

There is bipartisan agreement in the Senate that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are "too big to fail," but some lawmakers are skeptical that a SIFI designation is appropriate.

B. Riley FBR initiated equity coverage on Fannie Mae as the chances for privatization of the government-sponsored enterprises improved in a housing finance reform package.

The administration official will serve a five-year term as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's chief regulator.

American Banker's Rob Blackwell and Cowen’s Jaret Seiberg discuss Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the future of housing finance

Senators dove into how to ensure housing finance reform serves lenders of all sizes, just as the Trump administration moved closer to crafting its own GSE plan.

Lawmakers still have a long way to go before enacting housing finance reform, but the testimony could signal how future legislative talks will play out.