Fannie Mae’s Latest CAS Sells First-Loss Position. Fannie priced its latest credit risk sharing transaction under its Connecticut Avenue Securities series last week. For the first time, it is selling a portion of the first-loss position, further reducing taxpayer exposure to credit losses. To promote additional liquidity, Fannie for the first time sought a credit rating for the M2 notes in a CAS transaction. Servicer Expense Reimbursement Notification. Fannie Mae Expense Reimbursement will be consolidating the available expense reimbursement claim line item categories and subcategories in the Black Knight Financial Services LoanSphere Invoicing Application on March 21, 2016. This update will streamline the claim line item choices in the application for improved consistency in submitting and processing expense reimbursement requests. Freddie Prices...
Although residential originations fell by roughly 15 percent in the fourth quarter on a sequential basis, warehouse lenders saw their commitments inch up slightly, according to new figures compiled by Inside Mortgage Finance. At Dec. 31, warehouse banks had extended an estimated $49.0 billion of commitments to non-depository lenders, a 2.1 percent sequential gain. Compared to yearend 2014, commitment levels rose a handsome 28.9 percent. Part of the reason for the increase in activity – especially year-over-year – can be explained...[Includes one data table]
The CEO noted that Freddie Mac has made great inroads in doing more business with small to medium-sized lenders, but also said that when it comes to the GSE’s credit box, “it is not being fully used” by the industry.
In particular, Watt expressed his concerns about January 1, 2018 when Fannie and Freddie – as promulgated by the U.S. Treasury – are forced to have a capital “buffer” of zero dollars.
Private mortgage insurers saw spirited competition in 2015, both within their own ranks and against a surge in government-insured products, especially the FHA program, according to a new market analysis and ranking by Inside Mortgage Finance. Private MIs wrote coverage on an estimated $219.64 billion in mortgage originations last year, a 23.2 percent increase from 2014. The estimate includes $315 million in coverage on Home Affordable Refinance Program loans provided by the three MIs in run-off mode. The private MI business surge included...[Includes three data tables]
Top officials of the Department of Housing and Urban Development have explicitly ruled out lower FHA premiums or making other significant changes in the program any time soon. Testifying before a House Financial Services subcommittee late last week, FHA Commissioner Edward Golding did not provide any updated guidance on mortgage insurance premiums but made clear there are no plans to revise FHA’s current life-of-loan policy. Under the existing FHA policy, borrowers are required...