In the announcement extending the policy, FHFA Director Mark Calabria offered a defense of the stiff surcharges, saying, “Lenders have a responsibility to ensure that borrowers can make their monthly payment.”

The added cost associated with servicing a mortgage in forbearance gives servicers an incentive “not to follow the mandates of the CARES Act and implementing guidance,” investigators said.

Fannie, Freddie and Ginnie issued a combined $742 billion of single-family MBS in the second quarter, smashing a record set back in 2003, the mother lode for mortgage business.

According to Monday’s decision, the president can fire FHFA Director Mark Calabria at will – whether it’s the current president, or a potentially Joe Biden...

In her letter, Rep. Waters acknowledges the need to manage the risk associated with forbearance loans, bu recommends an alternative to the steep LLPAs leveled by FHA and FHFA. Instead, the congresswoman says those costs should be spread across the agencies’ broader single-family portfolios, resulting in “near-negligible costs on any individual loan.”

So far, the industry response has been positive, with a thumbs up coming from CMLA...