Rural housing nonprofits want USDA’s Rural Housing Service to take additional steps to improve its Section 502 direct loan program and Section 504 loan and grant program, such as improving staffing and information technology.

House passes tax bill with LIHTC provisions; FHA finalizes rules on branch office registration requirements; HUD to hold meeting of the Manufactured Housing Consensus Committee; and other news.

What goes down must go up again? That seems to be the story of the fourth quarter’s revival in agency MBS values. Declining mortgage rates gave agency securities holders a shot in the arm.

The Fed launched the Bank Term Funding Program amid the regional bank crisis in 2023 to help avoid fire sales of MBS and other assets. The program is set to end in March as scheduled.

A New York Federal Reserve study found that the secondary market loan sales could help boost capital at CDFI-approved lenders.

Panel discussions at the summit covered Ginnie’s digital collateral, social impact investing and manufactured housing, among other topics.

The MBA is taking its concerns about rising costs associated with obtaining credit scores to the FHFA, CFPB and FTC. A CFPB official said the regulator is willing to consider looking into the issue.

As the Trump campaign gathers steam, investors seem to believe that means the GSEs are more likely to be released from conservatorship.

Sen. Tim Scott, R-SC, called for stronger flood mitigation efforts by states, more reliable funding for NFIP and more accurate flood maps.

Housing trade groups urged Congress to pass a bill to modernize the IRS’ income verification program.