The CEO noted that Freddie Mac has made great inroads in doing more business with small to medium-sized lenders, but also said that when it comes to the GSE’s credit box, “it is not being fully used” by the industry.
In particular, Watt expressed his concerns about January 1, 2018 when Fannie and Freddie – as promulgated by the U.S. Treasury – are forced to have a capital “buffer” of zero dollars.
Private mortgage insurers saw spirited competition in 2015, both within their own ranks and against a surge in government-insured products, especially the FHA program, according to a new market analysis and ranking by Inside Mortgage Finance. Private MIs wrote coverage on an estimated $219.64 billion in mortgage originations last year, a 23.2 percent increase from 2014. The estimate includes $315 million in coverage on Home Affordable Refinance Program loans provided by the three MIs in run-off mode. The private MI business surge included...[Includes three data tables]
The House of Representatives last week passed legislation containing a provision to eliminate the cap on VA loan guaranty limits. Sponsored by Rep. Brad Wenstrup, R-OH, the “Veterans Employment, Education, and Healthcare Improvement Act,” H.R. 3016, included an amendment added by Rep. Lee Zeldin, R-NY, in committee. The amendment would eliminate the maximum loan amount the VA will guarantee, allowing more veterans to purchase homes in high-cost areas such as San Francisco and San Jose, CA. The bill was agreed to...
Activity in the Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac refinance program for underwater borrowers continued to decline in the fourth quarter of 2015, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency. The FHFA said the two government-sponsored enterprises securitized 21,079 loans originated under the Home Affordable Refinance Program during the fourth quarter. That was down 18.4 percent from the previous quarter and brought year-to-date production to just 110,113 loans, a 48.2 percent decline from 2014. HARP accounted...[Includes one data table]
But is the mega-lender advocating for consumers or is it another bold attempt to gain market share and thus increase profits? Industry consultant David Lykken noted: “Quicken’s being smart – they’re using their leverage.”
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