Lingering capital shortfalls belie higher net incomes at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mae in 2023. (Includes data table.)

The Federal Reserve published a hypothetical economic collapse for banks to use in their annual stress test this year. The same scenario might be used by FHFA for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Freddie also announced various changes in its Loan Product Advisor related to asset and income modeling and income validation.

The mortgage giant spelled out what servicers must do to ensure the GSE’s interests are protected by adequate property insurance on the collateral backing its mortgage loans. Fannie also hedges its bets on a lapse in the NFIP.

A Fannie survey highlights how sentiments have changed among condo lenders after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac imposed new restrictions in the wake of the Surfside tower collapse in 2021.

Although Fannie Mae’s NPL sales are down, Freddie Mac’s near exit from the market accounts for most of the decline in sales in 2023.

Freddie and lender trade groups circled the wagons in opposition to many of the mortgage-related provisions in a proposed rule to change capital requirements for large banks.

A tangled web of climate risk, shady insurers, shoddy ratings services and lax insurance rules at the GSEs may snarl Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in unexpected counterparty risk.

The former FHFA director says Congress will never act, but that the GSEs should create subsidiaries, then complete an initial public offering to get out of government control.

Small depositories warn changes at the FHLBs could increase members’ costs and reduce access to FHLB funding. Worse, these changes could take place without formal rulemaking.