Seterus, a servicing vendor working for Fannie Mae, foreclosed on 2,762 homes in California during 2017, more than any other servicer – by far – according to a report issued by the California Department of Business Oversight. The year prior, Seterus, which is controlled by IBM, foreclosed on 4,265 units, the state found. The figures cover only firms that are California licensees. The runner-up in California foreclosures last year was Nationstar Mortgage with 1,410 actions, down 15.4 percent from 2016.
Industry experts continue to weigh in on the White House’s proposal to privatize the GSEs and introduce multiple guarantors, but don’t anticipate action anytime soon. Analysts with Keefe, Bruyette and Woods said the proposed changes are similar to the Corker-Warner and Johnson-Crapo reform bills previously introduced in the Senate.
Freddie Mac will now allow borrowers purchasing or refinancing a condominium to take advantage of its appraisal waiver. With condominium loans growing in popularity among first-time homebuyers, the GSEs are purchasing more of the product. As a result, Freddie announced last week it decided to expand the eligibility requirements. Fannie Mae has been offering its property inspection waiver to condominium borrowers since May.
Pershing Square Capital Management, the largest holder of GSE common stock, is telling its shareholders to be patient with its investment in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, despite the drubbing the shares have taken this year. As Inside The GSEs went to press late this week, Fannie common was trading for $1.41 a share compared to a 52-week high of $3.31 and a low of $1.21. Freddie common was selling for $1.60. Its high for the year is $3.24, its low $1.20.
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