Seller repurchases of defective Fannie/Freddie loans increased 19% from the first to the second quarter of 2026. Although the 2025 book appears to be one of the cleanest in recent years, unresolved buyback claims were up 18% in the second quarter. (Includes three data tables.)
Analysts worry that FHFA’s aggressive policy moves on credit scores are more about saving consumers money than the safety and soundness of the mortgage system.
The FHFA noted that its OIG budget was nine times larger than the average across federal agencies. Critics say the cuts are intended to protect FHFA Director Bill Pulte and President Trump.
Although tensions between the FHFA and its OIG are high, the IG team continues to crank out examinations and audits, including four released this week.
A new study by UI housing researchers shows that VantageScore 4.0 and FICO 10T significantly outperform Classic FICO. 10T also outperforms VS4, but by a much smaller margin.
Even though FHFA Director Bill Pulte spent much of last year floating the idea of LLPA reform as a way to lower the cost of a mortgage, the new LLPA grids for VantageScore 4.0 were not accompanied by a reduction in fees for Classic FICO loans.