Three analysts at Wells Fargo Securities discussed in a new report this week what could happen to the agency MBS market as a result of pending tax reform, one version of which was passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this week. As always, the devil is in the details; hence, the bitter in-fighting among entrenched interests on Capitol Hill.
The Ginnie Mae/Veterans Affairs task force is meeting regularly to find a solution to the VA churning problem that is triggering rapid prepayments to the detriment of MBS investors – and a test currently used by the FHA might provide the answer.
Fannie Mae is considering a pilot program to help consumers more easily get construction loans. While the program is just in the early stages of consideration, the government-sponsored enterprise sees the program as a way to increase affordable housing options for homebuyers.
Conventional mortgages that meet Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchase guidelines remained the biggest source of new home lending during the third quarter, although other product types saw sol-id increases in origination volume as well.