The new Federal Advisory Committee on Affordable, Equitable and Sustainable Housing includes a who’s who of housing finance experts, equitable housing advocates and industry representatives.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-MA, has called for a significant increase in the FHLBanks’ required contribution to affordable housing. She also urged FHFA to change the membership eligibility requirements to encourage more housing and community development activities.
Although FHLB borrowing declined in the first quarter, with lenders continuing to reduce outstanding advances, profits for the system as a whole were up 9.6% from the fourth quarter and 16.6% year to date. (Includes three data tables.)
Among the questions raised is should FHFA continue to focus on how much liquidity FHLBanks provide for housing and community development or are there other components to FHLBank operations that deserve more attention.
FHFA and the Mortgage Bankers Association have asked legislators to exempt Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from new laws governing the use of automated underwriting systems and other artificial intelligence tools.
The GAO’s fact-filled, even-handed review of the FHLBanks’ role in last spring’s regional banking crisis has been used to justify arguments by both critics and supporters of the banks.
FHLBanks and housing advocates square off over issues, such as the banks’ mission, how they benefit housing finance and, surprisingly, whether they receive a federal subsidy.
A regulatory interpretation released this week by FHFA involving cooperativas in Puerto Rico may begin the formal implementation of key recommendations in its review of the FHLBank system.
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