One of the biggest takeaways for the mortgage industry in Republicans’ tax reform effort is that homeownership incentives provided by the mortgage interest deduction will be reduced significantly. Republican leaders have stressed that they don’t plan to eliminate the MID. But a near doubling of the standard deduction and other provisions included in tax reform will make the deduction worth much less, according to Leonard Burman, an institute fellow at the ...
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac generated a combined $7.69 billion in net income during the third quarter of 2017, up significantly from the $4.86 billion in the second quarter, according to an Inside Mortgage Finance analysis of earnings reports released this week. Freddie’s earnings were unusually high at $4.67 billion thanks to a legal settlement with the Royal Bank of Scotland over non-agency mortgage-backed securities sold by the investment firm to the government-sponsored ...
There continues to be some nervousness about VA receivables because of streamlined refinancings, although regulators are trying to curb abuses in the program.
“The other natural job would be as CFPB director,” the Cowen analyst continued. “That said, Hensarling has shown much greater interest in housing finance…”
The trade group also found that refinancings are declining as well: down to 48.7 percent of all new applications from 49.5 percent for the week ending Oct. 20.
In late December, Freddie will make its regular quarterly dividend payment to the U.S. Treasury, which holds its senior preferred shares. When it does, most of the $4.67 billion in net earnings will be swept into the general fund.
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