Is it time to take another look at GSE servicing fees? A topic is reborn...

All three major food groups in the contemporary mortgage market – government-insured, jumbo and conventional conforming – saw roughly the same drop in new originations from the fourth quarter of 2015 to the first three months of 2016, according to a new analysis by Inside Mortgage Finance. Production of loans with FHA, VA and rural housing guarantees held up a little better than the other sectors, with estimated originations slipping 1.0 percent from the fourth quarter. Although purchase mortgages account for a relatively higher share of originations in the government-insured market, there was a boost in refinance lending, especially in the VA program, that helped sustain overall production in the sector. The conventional-conforming and jumbo markets were...[Includes two data tables]

The heavy role of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae in the post-crisis mortgage market has brought lower rates and considerable liquidity to the mortgage business, but industry leaders question whether private capital can meet the growing need to finance nonbank servicing portfolios and the eventual pullback of the Federal Reserve. “We wouldn’t have the same price we have now without the government being there; its programs provide a 2 to 3 percent discount,” said Stan Middleman, CEO of Freedom Mortgage Corp., during a panel session at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s secondary market conference this week. “They are the whole enchilada. If you took them out, we’d have nothing.” The government-sponsored enterprises are...

Frustrated by inaction on housing finance reform, a dozen conservative organizations led by the National Taxpayers Union called on Congress to begin recapitalizing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The coalition of center-right organizations urged Congress to pass H.R. 4913, the “Housing Finance Restructuring Act of 2016.” They said the Treasury sweep of the government-sponsored enterprises’ profits implemented in 2012 has “jeopardized” the financial system and taxpayers. “If there is one thing this presidential campaign has revealed, it is...

When Freddie recently unveiled a first-quarter loss due to hedges affected by falling interest rates, MBA chief Dave Stevens issued a statement once again calling for Congress to enact housing-finance reform, but said nothing about the issue of zero capital.

The average credit score for purchase loans securitized last month was 749.7, the first time that measure has been below 750 in over two years.

“This is a seminal change,” one GSE observer told us.

“The QM rule needs to stand on its own two feet … The FHFA should not be in charge of setting national mortgage underwriting,” said MBA chief Dave Stevens.

To significantly reduce credit risk, all mortgages sold to Ginnie 2.0 would require a private credit enhancement attached to the loans…

Fannie Mae’s Economic & Strategic Research Group surveyed senior mortgage executives earlier this year and confirmed that lenders are still facing challenges in complying with the CFPB’s integrated disclosure rule known as TRID, according to new findings released by the government-sponsored enterprise last week. The controversial rule integrates the consumer disclosure requirements under the Truth in Lending Act and the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act. According to Sheila Teimourian, vice president and deputy counsel at Fannie, more than three-quarters of the lenders surveyed indicated that the two biggest challenges were managing or coordinating with third-party technology vendors and communicating with key players, such as the buyer, seller and loan officer. About eight in 10 of those who cited coordinating with ...