FHFA’s Federal Rent Control Proposal Would Be a Disaster
In its attempt to address the dire housing crisis, the Federal Housing Finance Agency is considering a policy that would surely make it worse and reduce the use of federal housing dollars.
The Loan Pricing Fracas, Explained
Everyone from members of Congress to federal housing officials to industry leaders to ordinary Realtors and mortgage brokers see different sides of the story.
FHFA Increases Fees on High Balance, Second Home Loans
Some high balance loans and mortgages on second homes sold to Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac could soon face higher upfront fees.
Greater Boston Conforming Loan Limit Raised to $770K
The maximum conforming loan limits for mortgages to be acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will increase by 18 percent in 2022, with the limit for two Massachusetts counties approaching $1 million.
MBA: Forbearance Hits Lowest Level Yet
The share of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans in forbearance has reached the lowest level since the start of the pandemic, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association, but an increase in the number of borrowers exiting forbearance into loan modifications points to ongoing struggles in the recovery from the pandemic.
Freddie Mac Looks to Rental Payments for Better Credit Measurement
In an effort to help renters build credit vital to buying a home, Freddie Mac has launched an initiative that will encourage operators of multifamily properties to report on-time rental payments to credit bureaus.
FHFA Makes Desktop Appraisals Permanent
The desktop appraisal process that was temporarily implemented at the start of the pandemic will become permanent, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said yesterday.
FHFA Seeks to Up GSE Minority Homebuying Targets
The Federal Housing Finance Agency has proposed new housing goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that would increase the share of mortgages purchased by the government-sponsored enterprises in minority and low-income neighborhoods.
MBA: Mortgage Forbearances Continue to Drop
The share of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans in forbearance has dropped below 2 percent for the first time since the early days of the pandemic, according to recent data from the Mortgage Bankers Association.
FHFA Prohibits Most Foreclosures Before CFPB Rules Take Effect
Despite a one-month gap between the end of the foreclosure moratorium and the start of new regulations to protect homeowners, mortgage servicers will not be able to begin foreclosure proceedings this year for most borrowers with loans backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said in a statement Tuesday.
FHFA Extends Multifamily Forbearance Again
Multifamily property owners with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac can continue to receive COVID-19-related forbearance through Sept. 30, the Federal Housing Finance Agency said in a statement today.
Forbearance Extended for Fannie, Freddie Loans
Borrowers with mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac will be eligible for another three months of forbearance, the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced this week.
Consumers See Little Impact from Refinance Fee
With mortgage loan rates remaining at historically low levels last week, the mortgage industry could see the refinance boom continue despite a new fee assessed on lenders.
Conforming Loan Limit in Greater Boston Raised to $724,500
The maximum conforming loan limit for mortgages to be acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will increase by almost 7.5 percent in 2021.
GSE Patch Extended
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued a final rule on Tuesday to extend the Government-Sponsored Enterprise (GSE) Patch, a move that could protect borrowers with high debt-to-income ratios.
5 Percent of Mass. GSE Mortgages Delinquent
Massachusetts homeowners felt the effects of pandemic in the first half of 2020 as almost twice as many missed payments on Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac mortgages through June 30 compared to the same period last year, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency.
GSEs to Delay Refinance Fee Until December
The Federal Housing Finance Agency has delayed a new mortgage refinancing fee scheduled to take effect next week and added exemptions for certain loans, moves applauded by local and national trade groups.
FHFA Extends Multifamily Forbearance
Multifamily property owners with forbearance agreements for mortgage backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mae are now eligible for an extension.
CFPB Proposes Alternative to DTI Limits in QM Lending Standards
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says it wants to eliminate the debt-to-income test from its qualified mortgage lending rules.
FHFA Allows Borrowers in Forbearance to Refi, Buy
Borrowers who requested forbearance on mortgages backed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac will still be able to refinance or buy a new home, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA).
