Profits flowing from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are poised to be the multi-billion dollar gift that keeps on giving, and could return nearly $180 billion to the Treasury Department over the next decade, according to a White House analysis. The analysis, which is part of the Obama administration’s 2015 budget, assumes the two government-sponsored enterprises will remain in operation and continue to pay dividends to the government under the current “net worth sweep” arrangement. The cumulative budgetary impact of the senior preferred stock purchase agreements will generate...

Freddie Mac has begun reviewing servicing-related violations of its program rules, issuing notices of defect for certain violations, mostly related to the conveyance of properties to the GSE with title problems.

One warehouse executive, requesting anonymity, said usage rates for the fourth quarter and the first two months of 2014 “have been very low.” He gave a range of 20 percent to 50 percent.

According to exclusive figures compiled by Inside Mortgage Finance, once Fifth Third departs, there will be just two depositories in the top 10: Flagstar and U.S. Bank.

The new regulations seek to streamline the reporting process and provide more timely access to data about potential fraud.

According to exclusive survey figures compiled by Inside Mortgage Finance, loan brokers accounted for 9.8 percent of all originations in the fourth quarter, a slight improvement from the 9.6 percent market share reading in the third quarter.

In a new report, Compass Point Research & Trading asks: “Are the special servicers bad actors?” CPR&T concludes the answer is no, but notes “there is some merit” to concerns about the rapid portfolio growth at certain firms…

Another bank bites the dust in wholesale: Fifth Third Bank, which ranks second among depositories in the channel, according to Inside Mortgage Finance.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac last year wrapped up most of the massive amount of repurchase demands they made on legacy loans originated before 2008, but the government-sponsored enterprises are looking more closely at new production and, increasingly, servicer performance. Together, Fannie and Freddie reported a total of $37.87 billion in mortgage repurchases and other settlements of buyback claims, which typically means ... [Includes one data chart]

The first two months of 2014 generated just $132.85 billion of new agency MBS, down 57.6 percent from the same period last year. A harsh winter in many parts of the country hasn’t helped.