Mobile technology may seem to be all the rage, with many lenders tapping vendors to help borrowers to shop for rates, mortgages and lenders from the palms of their hands. But a new Fannie Mae survey suggests that borrowers prefer to go “old school” and use their personal computers to find the best mortgage. The use of technology in mortgage shopping is likely to continue – especially among younger borrowers with higher income and educational levels. “Consumers say they use traditional ...

Declining refinance volume contributed to a marked decline in the GSEs’ overall business at the end of 2013 as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac posted big declines in business on a quarterly and total 12-month basis, according to a new Inside The GSEs analysis. Fannie and Freddie issued $182.2 billion in new single-family mortgage-backed securities during the three-month period ending Dec. 31, 2013, a two-year low.

Some GSE watchers fear that new Federal Housing Finance Agency director Mel Watt might slow GSE risk sharing deals but those concerns may be unwarranted.

Fannie, Freddie and their regulator have been dogged in their pursuit of claims against banks that sold defective mortgages to the GSEs prior the financial crisis.

When it comes to doing business with Fannie Mae, Wells Fargo's volume is almost three-times that of its closest competitor, Chase Home Finance, IMF found.

In a letter sent to new agency Director Mel Watt, GOP Congressmen Scott Garrett, Randy Neugebauer and John Campbell note that the 10 basis point increase proposed by Watt’s predecessor is not the only fee adjustment up for grabs.

This time around, Congress is considering tapping Fannie/Freddie g-fees as lawmakers look toward an extension of unemployment benefits, which expired on December 31.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac generated $182.2 billion of new single-family mortgage-backed securities during the final three months of 2013, their lowest quarterly output since the third quarter of 2011, according to a new Inside Mortgage Finance analysis and ranking. Fourth-quarter volume for the two government-sponsored enterprises was down 36.1 percent from the previous quarter, with Fannie posting the bigger decline, 36.8 percent. Freddie volume in the final three months of the year was off 34.7 percent from the third quarter, which helped modestly boost its share of the GSE market to 35.2 percent. For the year, Freddie accounted...[Includes three data charts]

MGIC's stock is trading near a 52-week high of $8.82 a share. The company, like the rest of the sector, is anxiously waiting on new capital-to-risk standards from FHFA.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency – via Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – is preparing new eligibility standards for mortgage-insurance firms and plans to show a first draft of the rules to state insurance regulators, Inside Mortgage Finance has learned. Private MIs may not get a peek at the rules until sometime in March. Also, insurance regulators may be required to sign a “non-disclosure” agreement with the FHFA or the government-sponsored enterprises regarding the content they see. Among other things, the eligibility standards will establish...