Both GSEs are expected to need a draw from the U.S. Treasury, thanks to the passage of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act that will reduce the corporate tax rate and result in $15.3 billion in one-time charges for the pair. With the tax rate being reduced from 35 percent to 21 percent, the GSEs now have to measure their net deferred tax assets using the new rate. According to recent Securities and Exchange Commission filings, Fannie Mae expects to take a one-time charge of $10.0 billion and Freddie Mac is bracing for a $5.3 billion charge.
Some observers think that resolving the long-running conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac this year is closer than it has ever been, but they also say political differences present a number of challenges. There has been an uptick in momentum the past few months and the recent deal between the Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Treasury that allows the GSEs to retain $3 billion in capital is an optimistic sign of progress to many. Moreover, the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is working on a draft of a GSE reform bill, and the House Financial Services Committee has held a handful of hearings on GSE reform issues in the fourth quarter in preparation for drafting legislation.
Sen. Bob Corker’s last-minute decision to vote for the massive GOP tax bill caused a ruckus in the press and social media, but the Senator’s communications director attributed the noise to opponents of his efforts to pass housing-finance reform. The controversy arose when Corker, R-TN, was accused of voting for the tax overhaul only after he saw a provision that would reap him financial gains. Weeks before the final vote, Corker was the only Republican senator set to vote against an earlier version of the bill. Corker is said to have significant holdings in companies that would benefit from a tax break for real estate-related pass-through corporations and partnerships.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac plan to tackle issues related to mortgage servicing and the borrower experience as part of their 2018 goals. The Federal Housing Finance Agency released the “scorecard” for the GSEs late last month, which outlines specific priorities the duo are expected to focus on throughout the year. The GSEs are charged with assessing the current mortgage servicing business model and developing specific plans to support servicing liquidity. The FHFA charged the GSEs to “assess the challenges and potential solutions for improving the borrower experience, expanding liquidity, and increasing efficiency of the servicing market.”
Fair housing advocates and civil rights groups wrote the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs to express concerns about not having a seat at the table as lawmakers draft GSE reform legislation. The groups, which include the Center for Responsible Lending, National Fair Housing Alliance and the NAACP, said current House and Senate proposals would do significant harm by locking out the very borrowers who depend on a future system, resulting in devastation to a recovering market. “Our constituents have a strong stake in the outcome of any legislative proposals in this area, and we are alarmed that we have not been invited to offer...
With new Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac draws on the Treasury’s line of credit now imminent because of tax cut legislation, one GSE shareholder says the payments should be accounted for as paybacks for money that was unfairly taken. Gary Hindes, a Fannie shareholder, has argued unsuccessfully that the Treasury sweep of GSE profits violates state law in Delaware and Virginia, where Fannie and Freddie are incorporated. Having lost the first round, the case is currently on appeal to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit. In a statement released this week, Hindes blasted the agreement between the GSEs and Treasury.
Fannie Affordable Housing Challenge. Fannie Mae launched a $10 million challenge to help address the affordable housing crisis. Through the Sustainable Communities Innovation Challenge, the GSE will commit $10 million over two years to attract promising ideas that will help alleviate affordable housing issues. Fannie expects to receive proposals from across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Maria Evans, Fannie’s vice president of sustainable communities’ partnership and innovation, said, “With the Challenge, we are looking for new concepts, designs, and ways of solving our nation’s affordable housing issues from innovators who are working inside and outside of the traditional housing industry. Great ideas can come from anywhere.” The goal is to...
With Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac buybacks at post-crisis lows, mortgage sellers should reevalu-ate their repurchase reserves for a number of reasons that could impact their business, according to mortgage industry experts. With loan quality significantly improved and underwriting standards tight-ened, many lenders are likely overestimating potential buybacks and carrying excess reserves.
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