Stricter energy codes would lower residents’ housing costs, improve their health and make them more resilient to the impacts of climate change, according to environmental and consumer groups.

The government-sponsored enterprise has collaborated with state housing finance agencies to develop standardized loan documents to simplify the use of downpayment assistance programs.

Although the GSEs financed fewer affordable units in small multifamily properties, the number of affordable units in Fannie- and Freddie-financed high-rises and garden apartments spiked from 170,000 to 248,000.

This week, the GSEs began providing investors the Social Density Score and Social Criteria Share attributes for Supers and Megas.

The baseline conforming loan limit for 2024 will rise $40,350 to $766,550 on mortgages for one-unit properties.

Fed researchers show that, when interest rates increase, refinances decline, but alternative forms of household borrowing increase proportionally. This borrowing substitution diminishes the value of refinances as a path for monetary policy.

With the cost of credit reports rising, many lenders have begun increasing their use of cheaper soft pulls for borderline borrowers. However, lenders say credit bureaus are raising the price for those as well.

It’s unclear whether loans that have gone into forbearance post-pandemic will be eligible for new repurchase alternatives.

Condo Project Advisor enhancements will allow lenders to determine whether a loan for a unit in a project is eligible for acquisition by Freddie within minutes.

Players in the commercial MBS market now have a better understanding about which assets are performing and which aren’t, according to Lisa Pendergast, executive director of the Commercial Real Estate Finance Council.