The FHFA will show the MI standards to state insurance regulators first, but only if they agree to sign a “non-disclosure” agreement with the FHFA or the government-sponsored enterprises regarding the content they see.

Since Mel Watt was sworn into a five-year term as Federal Housing Finance Agency director on January 6, the former North Carolina Congressman has made no public appearances or policy statements except for canned comments attributed to him in routine FHFA press releases.

Fed chairman Janet Yellen told legislators: “I think it is really very important for Congress to put in place a new system to address GSE reform. I think we still have a system that has systemic risk."

The FHFA permitted Fannie Mae to continue without the ability to assess repurchase late fees because the GSE claimed the cost of setting up such a program could cost $5.4 million

Worried that New York State regulators will throw a monkey-wrench into Ocwen’s mortgage servicing acquisition plans? Don’t be.

Although Flagstar led the pack, it was the only bank to rank among the top five sellers of brokered loans.

Also, Morgan Stanley recently increased its stake in Arch Capital Group to 6.3 percent. Arch owns CMG Mortgage Insurance, which is being renamed Arch Mortgage Insurance Company.

What’s the best way to entice a workaholic mortgage loan officer who knows how to bring home the bacon? Answer: Pay them a huge signing bonus.

Despite new public pronouncements by lawmakers and administration officials that housing finance reform remains a “top priority,” industry observers warn there is little chance of legislation clearing Congress, ensuring a status quo that leaves the uber-profitable Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in place and pumping money into the Treasury. Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Chairman Tim Johnson, D-SD, and Ranking Member Mike Crapo, R-ID, broke a long public silence by reiterating their intention to push bipartisan housing finance reform in a statement on Wednesday.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – during two different periods last year – spent nearly $20 billion buying roughly 85,000 loans despite clear warnings or questions about the appraisals, according to a new audit from the Inspector General of the Federal Housing Finance Agency. As part of its report, the FHFA-OIG has made 14 recommendations to FHFA regarding the matter, calling on the regulator to ensure the GSEs make better use of appraisal information generated by a uniform collateral data portal the agency told the two to develop in 2010.