Short Takes: No April Fools Day Joke: Policy Whiplash / A Drop in Policy Risk? / Trying to Figure Out Democrats and Republicans / Drowning in Student Loan Debt? / If Loan Officers Don’t Move Up, Move Them Out / A New Branch for Castle & Cooke April 1, 2019 Paul Muolo One consultant advises loan officers to move up or get moved out...Read More
What We’re Hearing: President Trump and GSE Reform / The NEC and Treasury, Cheek-to-Cheek on Fannie and Freddie? / Time to Hire an Investment Banker / Tim Who? / Altisource Unloads a Division / Odeon Hires Bove March 29, 2019 Paul Muolo Wells Fargo ranks first among home lenders and servicers – and with or without Tim Sloan, that’s not likely to change anytime soon…Read More
Nonbanks Conquer Larger Share of New Agency MBS March 29, 2019 John Bancroft Nonbanks reached a milestone in 2018: They became the dominant source of new issuance of Fannie/Freddie MBS…Read More
Crapo’s GSE Plan Praised (More or Less). However… March 29, 2019 Yemeng Yang Former GSE regulator Ed DeMarco: “The chairman’s outline captures the consensus elements of prior reform proposals and serves as a solid workable foundation from which to develop legislation.”Read More
GSE Share of High DTI Mortgages Nearly Doubled from 2015 to 2018 March 28, 2019 John Bancroft The FHA and VA loan programs also get special treatment under the ability-to-repay rule…Read More
How Long Will it Take for Treasury to Come Up with a GSE Plan? March 28, 2019 Paul Muolo Meanwhile, HUD needs to assess whether the HECM program should survive...Read More
Concerns About Profit Margins Ease, Somewhat March 28, 2019 Brandon Ivey Some 20% of lenders surveyed expect profit margins to increase in 2Q19, up from an 11% share the previous quarter…Read More
Short Takes: What Happened to the GSE Rally? / Time for Treasury to Hire an Advisory Firm? / Trump Serves Notice to HUD as Well, HECMs a Big Concern / Where Did All the Senators Go? / Hugh Frater’s Other Job March 28, 2019 Paul Muolo and Yemeng Yang President Trump is concerned about the HECM program...Read More
President Trump Directs Treasury to Draft GSE Overhaul; White House Wants Final Say March 27, 2019 Paul Muolo “For each administrative reform, the Treasury housing reform plan shall include a timeline for implementation,” Trump writes.Read More
Fannie Makes it Official, Names Interim CEO Hugh Frater Permanent Chief March 27, 2019 Paul Muolo Although Frater will lead Fannie, which earned $16 billion in 2018, his salary will be capped at $600,000 per year...Read More