Even though the preferred stock purchase agreement between the GSEs and the Treasury Department limits Fannie’s and Freddie’s capital reserves to $3 billion each, FHFA still requires the enterprises to undergo the stress test evaluation each year…

“Independent mortgage bankers, venture capital firms and commercial banks are all looking to buy,” said Larry Charbonneau of Charbonneau & Associates, Houston.

A decline in interest rates typically helps increase mortgage originations, but this time is different, according to Fitch.

The FDIC approved some relief for banks from the Volcker rule regarding hedging of mortgage servicing rights.

Priorities for the House Financial Services Committee this fall include increasing access to homeownership via the FHA.

"What starts as a temporary 10 bps hike could become a material and permanent tax on housing," said Jaret Seiberg, a policy analyst at Cowen.

The law would compel lenders to violate the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

One GSE-related question that hasn’t been answered yet: If a recap and release plan becomes a reality, will Congress end the $600,000 pay cap on GSE CEO compensation? 

Then again, the partnership with Freddie isn’t exactly novel. The vendor has a similar arrangement with the GSE’s crosstown rival Fannie Mae…