The $13 million Milbank contract, which follows the agency’s February selection of Houlihan Lokey as its capital markets advisor, suggests the FHFA remains committed to recap-and-release.

The new “flexibilities” cover both originations and appraisals. On the origination front, Fannie and Freddie will reduce the acceptable age of income documentation on most loans to 60 days from 120...

Calabria’s remarks were part of a broader outline summarizing the impact the crisis has had on mortgage markets and the actions the FHFA has taken in response.

“In fact,” said GSE regulator Mark Calabria, “if this goes on for more than two months, we’re going to be looking at stress for Fannie and Freddie"...

FHFA’s move regarding appraisals was somewhat expected...

Calabria suggested the new version of the capital rule might not look so different from the version proposed under the previous director, Mel Watt.

Fannie and Freddie said residential borrowers are expected to contact their servicer to set up forbearance plan.

CHLA recommends that FHFA only apply the new rules to companies with servicing portfolios exceeding $10 billion.

The Trump administration has not only proposed extending the existing g-fee surcharge, but recommends doubling it. Not to be outdone, both Democratic presidential candidates, former Vice-President Joe Biden and Sen. Bernie Sanders, D-VT, also support raising g-fees.

The FHFA in September increased the cap on Fannie’s and Freddie’s multifamily lending to $100 billion each through the end of 2020, with at least 37.5% of their business earmarked for affordable housing.