Activity at the GSEs is moving away from areas where the non-agency market could compete with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Cash-out refi business could be the next category to take a hit as FHFA has directed the GSEs to increase upfront pricing. (Includes data chart.)
FHFA applies a capital treatment to banks that differs from those used by federal banking regulators. The differences could limit banks’ ability to access Federal Home Loan Bank advances.
The regulator proposed a more standard, nationwide definition of “colonia” to make it easier for the enterprises and lenders to identify communities where their activities are eligible for credit under DTS.
In what is likely to be the last legal wranglings in Fairholme v. FHFA before its long-awaited jury trial begins, Judge Lamberth dealt Fannie/Freddie shareholders a modest defeat.
Lenders say the 15-bp surcharge on broker loans penalizes low- and moderate-income borrowers and flies in the face of the principle of the level playing field.
A number of lenders have started offering conforming mortgages with balances as high as $715,000, even though the GSE loan limit is $647,200 through the end of this year. As with prior years, the lenders are anticipating higher loan limits for the GSEs next year.