No new housing initiatives from President Trump; mortgage applications steady; home prices increase modestly in 2025; Democrats in Senate introduce bill aimed at limiting SFR institutional investors.

The Federal Reserve will soon issue proposals revising capital requirements set under the Basel framework in a way that could increase bank involvement in mortgage originations and servicing.

House Republicans said they’re drafting legislation that would end the conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Refi originations increased by 96.8% on a quarterly basis in the fourth quarter of 2025. For the full year, refi volume was up 61.2% while purchase-mortgage lending increased by 2.4%. (Includes five data tables.)

The big homebuilders are purportedly planning to build a million starter homes to sell through a rent-to-own program. The Trump administration has distanced itself from any such proposal.

Former Freddie CEO believes most prospective remedies to the affordability crisis will benefit only borrowers who don’t need the help.

Pennymac will pay $172.5 million upfront for Cenlar; real estate credit employment declines; GOP senators concerned about NFIP pricing.

Documents released under a FOIA request indicated that the GSEs’ assessment of the new credit score requirements found that a single-bureau credit pull significantly underperformed both the tri-merge and bi-merge.

The president wants to address housing affordability but also wants home prices to remain high because it has made a lot of people wealthy.

Production of first-lien residential mortgages increased by 17.3% during the fourth quarter of 2025. Refinances soared while purchase-mortgage activity declined as part of a seasonal trend. (Includes two data tables.)