The House Financial Services Committee passed a handful of CFPB-related bills earlier this month, after a previously scheduled markup had been delayed by the death of the mother of Rep. Maxine Waters, D-CA, the ranking member on the committee. H.R. 3770, the CFPB-IG Act of 2013, introduced by Rep. Steve Stivers, R-OH, was approved 39-20. The bill would create a separate, independent inspector general for the CFPB. The CFPB currently shares an inspector general with the Federal Reserve System. H.R. 4262, the Bureau Advisory Commission Transparency Act, introduced by Rep. Sean Duffy, R-WI, was approved by voice vote. H.R. 4262 would open up CFPB advisory board meetings to the public. H.R. 4383, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection Small Business ...

The supply of single-family MBS outstanding fell modestly during the first quarter of 2014, reversing three consecutive quarters of modest growth, according to a new Inside MBS & ABS analysis. As of the end of March there was $6.371 trillion of single-family MBS outstanding, down 0.3 percent from the end of 2013. The supply of single-family MBS had been drifting lower since peaking at $7.007 trillion at the end of 2009 as refinance activity – which adds little to outstanding supply – dominated the agency market and non-agency MBS issuance gained little traction. For the last nine months of 2013, the MBS market finally began...[Includes two data charts]

This week, the Federal Reserve, as expected, maintained the current pace of its reduction of support of the housing and mortgage markets, reducing its net purchases of agency MBS to $15 billion per month (down from $20 billion), beginning in July. The Fed Open Market Committee also maintained its forward guidance regarding the federal funds rate target of between zero and 0.25 percent and reaffirmed its view that a highly accommodative stance of monetary policy remains appropriate. “Even after today’s action takes effect, we will continue...

A senior Treasury Department official pushed back against the idea of rehabilitating the two government-sponsored enterprises, noting in a speech late last week that the firms cannot be re-capitalized and reiterating the Obama administration’s commitment to wind down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Mary Miller, the Treasury’s undersecretary for domestic finance, said that even if the two GSEs were allowed to stay in business and build up capital, it could take “at least” 20 years to recapitalize Fannie and Freddie. “During these 20 years, the taxpayer would remain...

Major post-crisis changes in the mortgage market should boost new issuance of residential MBS and have a long-lasting, positive impact on credit, according to Moody’s Investors Service. The rating service cites three key developments that will continue to support a strong credit environment for new MBS issuance, starting with the final rule on ability to repay and qualified mortgages. Moody’s believes the rule will help MBS performance by improving the reliability and accuracy of data lenders use to underwrite loans. Under the ATR rules, lenders are required...

While the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has encouraged originations of loans that don’t meet standards for qualified mortgages, consumer advocates this week voiced skepticism about the products. At a meeting by the CFPB’s consumer advisory board, Gary Acosta, CEO of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals, noted that most non-QM lenders appear to be focusing on jumbo borrowers. “Certainly that’s a gap,” he said of ...

Barring any unpleasant news, Julian Castro, President Obama’s nominee for secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, apparently has passed his job interview with the Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee. This week, Castro, a three-term mayor of San Antonio, TX, laid out his priorities as HUD secretary before committee members if he is confirmed for the job. Castro underscored the importance of “partnership and pragmatism” as the key drivers in running a city. As HUD secretary, Castro said he would enhance “cross-agency collaboration” and emphasize the value of “measuring results” by setting precise goals, consulting with the public on major issues, developing a public report card and annual updates – tools he employed in his municipal housing education and affordable housing initiatives in San Antonio. As mayor, Castro worked to ...

In a few weeks, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will release second quarter results, likely posting positive earnings, but the revenue figures will not include any major boost from legal settlements or the recapture of previously set-aside loan loss reserves. In short, what the two government-sponsored enterprises report in earnings for the second quarter should reflect what their operating profits might look like going forward, given normal market conditions. However, over the past six months, the CEOs of Fannie and Freddie and top officials at the Treasury Department – the owner of its senior preferred shares – have consistently argued...

Home-equity lending fell off sharply during the first quarter of 2014, but the sector may be poised for a rebound in the months ahead. Home-equity originations totaled an estimated $13 billion during the first three months of this year, down 18.8 percent from the previous quarter. That was up 8.3 percent from the first quarter of 2013, and a handful of lenders reported increased home-equity activity in early 2014. Most closed-end seconds and home-equity lines of credit are retained...[Includes three data charts]

Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s housing goal performance exceeded the benchmark levels for all of the single-family and multifamily goals set for the two government-sponsored enterprises in 2012, but preliminary figures show that Freddie is struggling to hit the mark for 2013, according to a new Federal Housing Finance Agency report. The FHFA’s annual report to Congress, released late last week, reveals official figures on each GSE’s goal performance in 2012 and preliminary data on goal performance in 2013. Both GSEs hit...[Includes one data chart]