Improving loan quality is sparking a major shake-out in the due diligence sector. Can jumbo production and MBS save the day? Meanwhile, the supply of MBS expanded slightly in the fourth quarter.
Although it expects to report significant net income for both the final three months and the full year 2012, Fannie Mae announced late this week that it will delay its earnings release while the GSEs accountants continue to crunch numbers to determine if the company should take a lucrative but complex tax deduction. In a form 12b-25 filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Fannie requested a filing extension beyond its March 18 deadline because it needs more time to analyze its deferred tax assets, which are unused credits and deductions that can be used to cover future tax bills.The release of the valuation allowance would have a material impact on the companys 2012 financial statements and result in a significant dividend payment to the U.S. Treasury, noted Fannie in its SEC filing.
Legislation introduced this week by a bipartisan group of senators would seek to jumpstart the stalled effort in Congress to implement legislative reform of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, but industry observers say the measure may also act to hinder cash grabs by government officials when the Treasury Department begins its sweep of the GSEs profits. The Jumpstart GSE Reform Act sponsored by Sen. Bob Corker, R-TN, with co-sponsors Sens. Mark Warner, D-VA, David Vitter, R-LA, and Elizabeth Warren, D-MA would prohibit any increase in Fannies and Freddies guaranty fee from offsetting other government spending. The reality is that if Congress were to spend g-fee revenue from the GSEs on other programs, reforming these mortgage behemoths would become nearly impossible, said Corker.