Private mortgage insurers may soon find themselves required to meet new eligibility standards if they want to continue doing business with the government-sponsored enterprises. In written testimony submitted to the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs, FHFA Acting Director Edward DeMarco said the FHFA intends to set new criteria for private MI companies in doing business with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The revised private MI standards are among the agency’s priorities in 2013 and is part of the conservatorship strategic plan to ...
Ginnie Mae is seeking feedback from dealers, issuers and investors about whether to continue to maintain two separate mortgage-backed securities programs or to consolidate them under a single security. Comments are also being sought on other possible options. Bloomberg.com recently reported that Ginnie Mae sent out questionnaires to Wall Street broker-dealers for their input on the future of both the Ginnie Mae I and Ginnie Mae II MBS programs. The agency has been considering whether it should merge the programs for some time. The Ginnie Mae I single-issuer pool program with stringent pooling requirements began in ...
Although the HARP program had record volume in the first quarter, the program is showing almost no growth, according to exclusive survey figures compiled by Inside Mortgage Finance.
Bank of America entered into a massive buyback settlement with Fannie Mae in January, but has yet to sell any 'purchase' loans to the GSE in 2013. However, this may change soon.
The federal agency caretaking Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac extended the streamlined refinance program for underwater mortgages at the government-sponsored enterprises for an extra two years, although it remains unclear how much gas is left in the tank. A new analysis of GSE securitization data by Inside Mortgage Finance suggests that activity under the Home Affordable Refinance Program increased by only 1.3 percent during the first quarter of 2013. A total of $69.0 billion of refinance mortgages with loan-to-value ratios exceeding 85 percent were securitized by Fannie and Freddie in the first three months of the year, representing the highest quarterly volume in the evolving program’s four-year history. Most of the increase came...[Includes two data charts]
The latest unofficial nominee purportedly under White House consideration to replace the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s acting head is far from a shoo-in, but industry observers say that Moody’s Analytics’ Chief Economist Mark Zandi is the most credible candidate yet who could not only clear Senate confirmation but also advance final reform of the government-sponsored enterprises. Zandi would neither confirm nor deny to Inside Mortgage Finance this week that he’s being considered by the Obama administration to replace FHFA Acting Director Ed DeMarco as the agency’s permanent director. However, sources say...
The Federal Housing Finance Agency is moving forward with its search to find a CEO to run the new common mortgage securitization platform that will one day be shared by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and, potentially, other issuers. But it’s anybody’s guess how much the regulator is willing to pay to get a top-flight candidate, according to industry observers. At least two individuals recently were approached about the job, according to these observers. Funding for the project will presumably come...
For as long as Edward DeMarco remains acting director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, he said he will push forward with the agency’s strategic plan to wind down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac while encouraging the return of private capital to the secondary market. DeMarco, along with FHFA Inspector General Steve Linick, testified before the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee this week. The hearing to evaluate the FHFA’s conduct as regulator and conservator to the government-sponsored enterprises occurred amid reports that the White House is poised to nominate Moody’s Analytics’ Chief Economist Mark Zandi as the FHFA’s new permanent director. “Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were chartered...
Although all of Bank of America earned $2.6 billion in the first quarter, its mortgage business lost money thanks to legacy problems. Also, it appears the bank is addicted to refis.
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