With more than two years left to go in the Home Affordable Refinance Program, it remains to be seen how many HARP-eligible loans will ultimately be refinanced as borrower education and lender participation in the program continue to be major challenges, according to a recent report by the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s official watchdog. In its “mid-program assessment,” the FHFA’s Office of Inspector General report noted that since HARP was launched in March 2009 through March 2013, 2.4 million HARP refis have been completed. The HARP 2.0 modifications rolled out in late 2011 and subsequent changes made throughout 2012 and 2013 have “substantially increased” the program’s refi volume, particularly for loans with loan-to-value ratios greater than 105 percent, said the OIG.

The the most powerful consumer regulator in the nation raised concerns about aligning the definitions of 'qualified residential mortgage' and 'qualified mortgage.'

Commercial banks are earning a ton of dough on residential servicing fees, but nonbanks are seeing an erosion in profits.

With improving loan quality and mortgage repurchase reviews declining, due diligence firms have been under stress the past year.

FHFA blames part of the GSEs’ significant losses on subprime MBS, which JPMorgan and 16 other financial institutions sold to Fannie and Freddie.

FHFA has been analyzing approaches for reducing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan limits across the country, "and any such change would be announced with adequate advance notice for implementation on January 1, 2014" the regulator said.

Thomas Hoenig, vice chairman of the FDIC, said he is particularly interested in exploring the downpayment issue further. Securities investors are also likely to push for downpayment requirements for QRMs.

In May, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-FL, flagged the disturbing consumer credit reporting practice of lumping a short sale within the same industry code as a foreclosure in consumer credit reports.

The trend toward private MI is likely to continue in anticipation of the FHA Solvency Act of 2013, which is awaiting action on the Senate floor.

A housing lobbyist added that, “Right now it’s a matter of timing. Will in come in October or a little later than that?”