Don Layton believes the new 2022 loan limits will cause home prices to increase even more, but the politicization of the housing-finance system makes it unlikely FHFA will be able to do anything about it.

In her first long-form interview since taking over as FHFA acting director, Sandra Thompson insisted that expanding the GSEs’ books of business won’t make them riskier.

Sen. Pat Toomey, R-PA, and NAMB President Kimber White each grade the brief performance of FHFA’s acting director.

The changes would reduce Fannie’s and Freddie’s capital requirements and increase incentives to issue CRT transactions.

The support of the powerful House Financial Services Committee chair improves the chances that FHFA Acting Director Sandra Thompson’s job becomes permanent. It also casts doubt on the rumored nomination of CRL President Mike Calhoun.

As the first Senate-confirmed head of domestic finance in nearly a decade, the former Fed economist could play a vital role in renegotiating the PSPAs between Treasury and FHFA.

Changes to Fannie’s loan agreements allow the company to more closely monitor compliance with OFAC rules and anti-money laundering and anti-corruption statutes.

One unintended consequence of the court ruling: The Biden administration got the greenlight to reform the GSEs without the help of Congress.

Besides using its own enforcement powers, FHFA will be referring cases to other appropriate agencies, including the Department of Justice.

Although most housing advocates applauded the Supreme Court’s Collins decision, shareholders argue the justices ignored key points. Nevertheless, legal experts say there’s little chance the plaintiffs will prevail when the case returns to circuit court.