Once a “flexibility” intended to help lenders deal with the pandemic, the desktop appraisal is about to become a permanent fixture of Freddie’s Loan Advisor and Fannie’s Desktop Underwriter.

The Biden administration and Congress need to address some major risks to the housing-finance system, according to the Government Accountability Office. The administration is still developing plans and there’s little urgency in Congress.

The mortgage industry has resigned itself to no administrative end to the Fannie and Freddie conservatorships. It’s still unclear what happens to the GSEs’ capital requirements.

Loan-level price adjustments charged by the government-sponsored enterprises for loans in high-cost areas and for second-home mortgages are set to increase this spring.

Acting Director Sandra Thompson has directed Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to factor climate change into their business decision-making.

The proposed capital planning rule could set the stage for post-conservatorship regulation of the GSEs, but it still relies on capital requirements that the enterprises may not meet for at least a decade.

Federal regulators provided status updates on several current and pending mortgage-related rulemaking initiatives. But revisions to the qualified-mortgage standards were missing from the CFPB’s agenda.

Fannie and Freddie stock prices jumped (only briefly) on news the two entities will be able to buy loans worth close to $1 million in 2022.

Freddie Mac will implement a higher income threshold for its Refi Possible product for low-income borrowers beginning Jan. 31.

The unprecedented increase has FHFA leadership thinking about the relationship between the conforming loan limits and home price appreciation.