New business and MBS issuance jumped in the second quarter. However, those upticks didn’t account for the spike in profitability at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (Includes data chart.)
AG Mortgage Investment Trust lodged a competing bid for Western Asset Mortgage Capital; Fannie, Freddie, Ginnie added to MBS disclosures; RMF sold some reverse mortgage MSRs.
The rounding of home prices in HMDA data complicates the calculation of whether loans below the conforming loan limits are more likely to be securitized into agency MBS in areas affected by climate change.
Numerous industry participants support FHFA developing a social bond designation for single-family MBS issuance from the GSEs. There are lingering concerns about the impact on the agency MBS market and borrower privacy.
FHFA is looking to reduce capital requirements for the GSEs’ issuance of commingled securities. Some are happy with the agency’s plan, while others argue that no capital requirements are necessary.
In a new book, James Lockhart, FHFA’s first director, outlines the events leading up to the conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. More than a decade later, the events and debates are still relevant.