The average guaranty fees charged by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on new business continued to climb during the third quarter, with a sizable slice going straight into the U.S. Treasury. Fannie reported that the average guaranty fee on new business was 58.7 basis points during the third quarter of 2013, up from 56.9 bps during the second quarter. Freddie continued to charge lower fees than its rival, 53.2 bps during the third quarter, up from 50.7 bps in the previous period. A year ago, Fannies average fee on new business was...
Will the banks that bought junior preferred stock in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac prior to the housing bust ever be made whole? Will investors that purchased the preferred after that time eventually be rewarded for the gamble they took on such a highly speculative investment? Those two questions look a lot more interesting these days thanks to continued strong earnings from the two government-sponsored enterprises. According to filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, Fannie and Freddie say...
The last time private MIs did more business than either the FHA or the VA was back in the first quarter of 2008. At that point, however, private MIs accounted for well over half of primary MI new business.
Are mortgage bankers so diabolical that they attempt to find a way around new regulations? Industry consultant Joe Garrett of Garrett, McAuley & Co. thinks so.