Rather than encouraging lending in flood-prone areas, mandatory flood insurance requirements limit mortgage originations for borrowers with low income or low credit scores, researchers at the NY Fed found.

The Biden administration’s move to reduce the impact of medical debt from consumer credit reporting will make it easier for some homebuyers to qualify for government-backed mortgages.

The new option is for borrowers who cannot achieve at least a 25% reduction in the principal and interest portion of their payment through a 30-year loan modification with a partial claim.

Lenders argue the temporary measures adopted by Fannie and Freddie to promote condo safety unnecessarily raise costs for borrowers and present liability issues for HOAs and cooperatives.

While states offered broad temporary flexibilities regarding LO licensing and location requirements during the pandemic, the transition out of the temporary standards has been bumpy.

The mortgage industry is already governed by extensive regulations, lenders said in comment letters filed with the CFPB.

Fannie joins Freddie in accepting attorney title opinion letters instead of title insurance. Industry observers said the new option will mostly impact refinances, not purchases.

Although Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are animals of the secondary market, the FHFA director said they have programs that can increase the amount of housing available.

Senators have raised concerns over the lack of transparency in the FEMA program’s risk-mitigation calculations.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac purchased fewer mortgages for mission-based multifamily lending in 2021. And this year their housing goals are even higher.