Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac generated a combined $7.69 billion in net income during the third quarter of 2017, up significantly from the $4.86 billion in the second quarter, according to an Inside Mortgage Finance analysis of earnings reports released this week. Freddie’s earnings were unusually high at $4.67 billion thanks to a legal settlement with the Royal Bank of Scotland over non-agency mortgage-backed securities sold by the investment firm to the government-sponsored ...
The trade group also found that refinancings are declining as well: down to 48.7 percent of all new applications from 49.5 percent for the week ending Oct. 20.
In late December, Freddie will make its regular quarterly dividend payment to the U.S. Treasury, which holds its senior preferred shares. When it does, most of the $4.67 billion in net earnings will be swept into the general fund.
The wording of the language-preference question first tells borrowers that their loan transaction is likely to be conducted in English but gives them the option of selecting one of six languages: English, Chinese, Korean, Spanish, Tagalog, and Vietnamese…