No longer is it a given that the Federal Reserve will cut short-term rates twice this year. And the 10-year Treasury rate is elevated.

A coalition of 23 housing groups offered an enthusiastic endorsement of Scott Turner as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Rate-term refis helped to drive up residential MBS issuance in the fourth quarter.

Nick Bhargava, co-founder and executive vice president of regulatory affairs at Groundfloor Financing, said the current lack of affordable housing inventory has caused real estate investors to look to fix and flip more properties.

The CFPB suggested that First Street Foundation does a better job of identifying flood risk than the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Deliveries of rate-term refinances into agency MBS declined by almost 40% on a monthly basis in December.

Property insurance costs are expected to increase due to the LA-area fires.

The nomination hearing for Scott Turner to lead HUD is scheduled for Jan. 16.

While the bank was a big player in the mortgage market before the financial crisis of 2008, its mortgage business has been limited more recently.

If the GSEs comply with the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s existing capital rule, maintain strong risk-adjusted earnings and uphold a dominant market presence, a stand-alone rating in the A category could be possible for the firms.