New Fannie exec; another tender offer; OIG fraud investigation; Fannie board member buys stock.

Economists at the MBA don’t think interest rates on mortgages will decline much this year. Economists at Fannie Mae project a sizeable drop.

New artificial intelligence technology provides both promise and complications for the mortgage industry.

Among the top-five lenders in terms of applications received for conventional-conforming mortgages in 2024, Rocket Mortgage had the highest overall denial rate at 15.9%. JPMorgan Chase ranked second with a rejection rate of 12.0%. (Includes data table.)

The reporting of positive rental payment data to credit reporting bureaus can help increase homeownership opportunities.

Rosy recapture-rate projections prompt some pushback; Fitch removes Rocket from downgrade watch; PennyMac upsizes debt offering; MISMO seeking comments.

The agency moved to limit the volume of mortgages with buydowns flowing into its MBS program. The restrictions apply only to temporary buydowns, which are less concerning to investors than mortgages with a permanent buydown.

With specified pools accounting for half of GSE single-family MBS issued in the first quarter, the most popular option was MBS with high social-mission scores. (Includes data table.)

While the bureau seems to be stepping away from an enforcement focus within the ABS market, industry attorneys note that a Third Circuit decision is still binding.

Redwood Trust is seeing a surge in sales of seasoned mortgages by banks.