The Mortgage Bankers Association and other industry trade groups fear that the shutdown will have a growing impact on the housing market, including FHA endorsements.

Moody's, in a new report, notes that Bank of America outsources roughly 25 percent of its “early stage” collection efforts to vendors.

However, if Fannie Mae determines through established delivery or quality-control review processes that any loan has ineligible term or amortization provisions, it will be subject to repurchase.

The general consensus is that despite their conservatorship status, the GSEs are still considered private companies, even though Treasury controls their senior preferred shares.

The U.S. homeownership rate fell to 63.9 percent in 2012, according to figures compiled by the Census Bureau through its “American Community Survey.” In case you’re keeping tabs, it’s the fifth year in a row that the rate has gone south.

Critics contend that jumbo MBS investors don’t have access to mortgage documents.

The Federal Reserve is pointing its finger at both loan officers and applicants for the misreporting of borrower income.

FHA claims it is still endorsing loans but only 2 percent of its staffers are on duty. Also, the USDA mortgage program lies dormant.

All five mortgage servicers participating in the settlement will be subject to tougher testing, said Joseph Smith, the settlement’s monitor.

As the government shutdown continues and many federal workers go without pay checks, there’s a growing concern that these potential borrowers will see their credit scores get dinged.