Freddie Mac's CFO said the "true value" provided by the government-sponsored enterprises isn't billions of dollars in profits. Meanwhile, firms continue to pursue mortgage servicing rights.
The House Financial Services Committee this week reported out a legislative package of housing finance system reforms, including measures designed to reduce FHAs role in the mortgage marketplace, strengthen lender oversight and avoid a potential taxpayer bailout. The bill, Protecting American Taxpayers and Homeowners Act (H.R. 2767), passed by a vote of 30 to 27 despite mixed responses from industry experts, academics, financial trade associations and consumer advocates. Critics called for changes. Offered by Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-TX, chairman of the Financial Services Committee, the bill proposes ...
FHA officials, industry groups and consumer advocates appear to be leaning more towards a Senate FHA reform bill that is moderate and far less ambitious than legislation approved by the House Financial Services Committee this week. Introduced by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson, D-SD, and Ranking Minority Member Mike Crapo, R-ID, the FHA Solvency Act of 2013 focuses on the right issues, not like the House bill, which tries to dramatically alter the program and affect borrower eligibility, said an industry observer. Testifying as the sole witness at a Senate Banking Committee hearing on FHA solvency this week, FHA Commissioner Carol Galante said ...
A former FHA commissioner said he supports a proposal in the Protecting American Taxpayers and Homeowners Act (PATH Act) to spin off the FHA from the Department of Housing and Urban Development as an independent government-owned corporation. Brian Montgomery, who was assistant secretary for housing and head of the FHA during the Bush administration, said the separation, if enacted, would transfer authority, resources and personnel from HUD to the FHA to manage the insurance fund. This is something I have advocated both during and after my more than four-year tenure as FHA commissioner, said Montgomery, who ...