Fannie paused its CRT issuance in 2020 after the FHFA proposed changes to the capital treatment of CRT transactions. Freddie continued to issue deals, but Fannie wasn’t persuaded to return until a proposal by the FHFA in September.
FHFA scraps plan to allow non-agency mortgages on common securitization platform; non-agency forbearance declines; Redwood makes another venture investment; Plaza resumes non-QM program; FoA allowing jumbo borrowers to use income from ADUs; Invictus hires dv01.
Some of the Trump-era restrictions placed on the GSEs have been put on hold for at least a year. That includes a cap on acquisitions of mortgages for investment properties.
The blueprint would reverse capital requirements set in December, which offered few incentives for the GSEs to complete credit-risk transfer transactions.
Industry consultants are cautioning companies to take steps to ensure their fair housing compliance teams are ready to defend an expected uptick in enforcement actions.
In particular, one clause could rankle mortgage industry participants: HUD also agreed to notify FHFA of any Fair Housing Act complaints related to counterparties of Fannie and Freddie.
Nevertheless, rumors are circulating that the Biden administration is preparing to test the legal waters by having the FHA and VA extend their REO eviction moratoriums to the end of the year. These were also scheduled to end on Saturday. If that were to happen, most observers believe FHFA would follow suit.