The new Federal Advisory Committee on Affordable, Equitable and Sustainable Housing includes a who’s who of housing finance experts, equitable housing advocates and industry representatives.

Stakeholders say the GSEs’ proposed definition of “first-generation homebuyer” in their equitable housing-finance plans unfairly excludes many of the people the enterprises and the FHFA want to help.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency has issued a request for information seeking industry comment on the GSEs’ plans to support underserved communities under their duty-to-serve obligations.

Industry veteran Michael Stegman wants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to be more transparent about the impact of their rent reporting pilots.

Among the questions raised is should FHFA continue to focus on how much liquidity FHLBanks provide for housing and community development or are there other components to FHLBank operations that deserve more attention.

In an effort to reduce closing costs for low-income and first-time homebuyers, Freddie will now allow lenders to replace title insurance with attorney opinion letters in all but one state.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac take a step toward addressing the racial and ethnic gap in intergenerational wealth.

A new rule from FHFA has enshrined fair lending requirements of the GSEs, including the treatment of their equitable housing finance plans.

Republicans on the Senate Banking Committee confronted FHFA Director Sandra Thompson about title insurance waivers and DPA “slush funds” at the GSEs.

Freddie’s head of single-family acquisitions said programs, such as DPA One, BorrowSmart and HeritageOne, have helped the GSE lower closing costs and expand access to mortgage credit.