Some critics argue that forcing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to intervene in the mortgage-backed securities market may indicate their recapitalization and release from conservatorship is now on hold.

With the administration considering ways to address affordability, industry trade groups suggested adjusting policies at the GSEs. There’s also debate between MBA and CHLA on credit scoring practices.

Fannie and Freddie representatives gave attendees at the MISMO Winter Summit a better sense of the timeline for fully implementing UAD 3.6 and UCD 2.0.

Testimony from both liberal and conservative housing industry observers questioned the Trump administration’s policy regarding the future of Fannie and Freddie.

The trade group argues that a likely shift to a single-bureau credit pull may not actually lower rates and could add risk to the system.

The president wants Fannie and Freddie to buy $200 billion in agency MBS to lower interest rates and reduce the cost of buying a home. Initial reaction from MBS analysts was mixed.

Housing advocates say the new, lower benchmarks generally favor middle- and working-class borrowers at the expense low-income and very low-income borrowers.

Researchers tell Congress that, despite the role the FHLBanks played in the bank failures of 2023, a higher level of FHLBank borrowing has historically been associated with positive outcomes for members.

Although FHFA, under Director Bill Pulte, has shied away from the green and climate priorities of prior administrations, UAD 3.6 still allows green and energy efficiency features to impact valuations.

Between 2022 and 2024, Fannie’s open multifamily fraud investigations spiked from 14 to 193. In the same interval, actual fraud findings went from 3 to 87.