As the GSE recap-and-release avalanche continues, there’s increasing chatter in the market that Treasury is open to a legal settlement with Fannie/Freddie shareholders. A crazy idea? Maybe not.
FHFA Director Mark Calabria said any revised qualified mortgage rule introduced by the CFPB should be applicable to all lenders. Industry participants are unsure how the regulator will address the issue.
FHFA Director Mark Calabria said he would be willing to wipe out Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shareholders if needed to ensure taxpayers don’t have to bail out the mortgage giants again.
If the mortgage industry doesn’t change the way flood risk is assessed, lenders could begin to “blue-line” certain areas, refusing to lend due to unacceptable flood risk, according to a paper published by the San Francisco Fed.
Lenders worry that including the language preference question on the URLA might expose them to litigation from non-English-speaking borrowers and slow down the homebuying process.
Not only is FHFA Director Mark Calabria homing in on a roadmap to end the conservatorship of Fannie and Freddie, he clearly believes the exit can take place before the two entities are fully capitalized.
Analyst Richard Bove thinks the new net worth sweep agreement is just a gimmick because the liquidation preference on Treasury’s preferred stock will offset any increase in the GSEs’ capital buffers.
Origination pipelines remain full and lenders, for the most part, are feeling optimistic about profits. Can it last? Probably, as long as rates remain low.
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