According to former Fannie Mae CFO Tim Howard, the re-proposed capital requirements are almost 40 times the average of that indicated by stress tests conducted on the GSEs last year.
The move suggests the GSEs’ public offerings — estimated by some to be worth as much as $200 billion — may take place in the midst of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
Borrowers now have the option of simply deferring any forborne payments to the end of their mortgage. In effect, this would work like an interest-free second mortgage, and would become due when the house is sold or the loan is refinanced.
Mortgage servicers’ liquidity issues could ease if non-agency lending is acceptable collateral under the TALF programs, according to Urban Institute’s Jim Parrott.
The GSEs’ showing in the first quarter only reflects one full month of the impact of the coronavirus crisis. As potentially millions more homeowners stop paying their mortgages, the enterprises face the prospect of an even more challenging second quarter. (Includes data chart.)
Most of the FHLBanks’ COVID-19 relief programs have been initiated at the district level, resulting in considerable variations in scale and generosity.
Freddie Mac believes the market for credit-risk transfers may never return to pre-COVID levels because of the potential impact of the pandemic on mortgage performance.
Small and women/minority-owned suppliers serving Freddie Mac will receive payment on their invoices at least 20 days earlier than stipulated in their contracts.
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