The heavy role of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and Ginnie Mae in the post-crisis mortgage market has brought lower rates and considerable liquidity to the mortgage business, but industry leaders question whether private capital can meet the growing need to finance nonbank servicing portfolios and the eventual pullback of the Federal Reserve. “We wouldn’t have the same price we have now without the government being there; its programs provide a 2 to 3 percent discount,” said Stan Middleman, CEO of Freedom Mortgage Corp., during a panel session at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s secondary market conference this week. “They are the whole enchilada. If you took them out, we’d have nothing.” The government-sponsored enterprises are...
Despite low inventory and financing conditions that can favor other types of homebuyers, first-timers are increasing their market share, according to the latest Campbell/Inside Mortgage FinanceHousingPulse Tracking Survey. First-time homebuyers accounted for 38.9 percent of home purchases in April, based on a three-month moving average. That was up from a 38.1 percent share the previous month and a 37.2 percent share in April 2015. “Demand from first-time homebuyers is...
“If nothing is done in the near term, the natural progression could be a spillover of mortgage originations that favor the private-label market,” S&P said.
“The QM rule needs to stand on its own two feet … The FHFA should not be in charge of setting national mortgage underwriting,” said MBA chief Dave Stevens.
In the first quarter, 11.2 percent of Fannie/Freddie purchase loans had credit scores below 700 and LTV ratios of 81 percent or higher. That was up from 7.4 percent in the fourth quarter…
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