President Trump’s directive to lower interest rates helped spur a tightening in mortgage spreads, but economists are skeptical of the long-term impact of the move involving GSE purchases of MBS.

Industry participants discussed factors that led to debt service coverage ratio loans becoming commonplace last week at a conference.

The trade group argues that a likely shift to a single-bureau credit pull may not actually lower rates and could add risk to the system.

Department of Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner was evasive as members of the House Financial Services Committee asked him to elaborate on his plans and achievements.

Rates eased by a few basis points in government markets after the Trump administration announced Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would purchase a combined $200 billion in agency mortgage-backed securities, even as the industry awaited more details from the federal government.

Ginnie Mae will allow electronic promissory notes to be transferred under its co-issuance program as part of its effort to push more lenders into the digital landscape.

An amendment floated ahead of a planned markup by the House Committee on Veterans' Affairs would raise the funding fee on most VA home loans. The markup was ultimately postponed.

The National Association of Mortgage Brokers called for FHA to end its life-of-loan mortgage insurance premium policy.

The Consumer Federation of America studied the shortcomings of FHA’s 203(k) rehabilitation loan program to determine why usage has plummeted 77% in the last decade.

The Department of Veterans Affairs reminded lenders of a circular, which was delayed during the partial government shutdown, that sought to clarify how VA lenders should use energy efficiency ratings in the underwriting process.