GSEs

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has repeatedly reconsidered whether to add a language question to the GSEs' loan application, but its new director's latest call may finally resolve the question.

More applications for non-QM loans might close if lenders and originators beefed up efforts to address missing or outdated information, according to Computershare.

Increased consumer debt and the threat of an economic downturn increase the default risk for government-sponsored enterprise mortgages during the first quarter, according to Milliman.

A gradual approach would help the market absorb loans affected by the government-sponsored enterprises' expiring qualified mortgage exemption, a Redwood Trust executive told analysts during a recent earnings call.

Essent Group continued to benefit from the volatility in private mortgage insurers' market share, remaining in second place among the six active underwriters at the end of the recent quarter.

Fannie Mae's current tack could help it weather some of the new challenges confronting the government-sponsored enterprises, including the planned expiration of its qualified mortgage rule exemption and rate-driven earnings volatility.

Freddie Mac continues to churn out steady financial returns, with the growth in first-time home buyers and credit risk transfers providing the GSE stable footing when a recession comes, according to new CEO David Brickman.

Lenders looking to keep up with the competition should adopt a digital mortgage process because a key borrower segment and the government-sponsored enterprises increasingly expect them to offer one.

The mortgage industry was caught off guard by regulators’ decision to cease special treatment for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in complying with underwriting rules. But how big of an impact will the new policy have?

Ginnie Mae is requesting feedback on a new proposed stress test for mortgage-backed securities issuers that would take into account the government agency's increased nonbank counterparty risk.