Multiple lenders tell Inside Mortgage Finance that, in late March, the enterprises began rejecting loans that would have been easily approved in early March.
Nevertheless, rumors are circulating that the Biden administration is preparing to test the legal waters by having the FHA and VA extend their REO eviction moratoriums to the end of the year. These were also scheduled to end on Saturday. If that were to happen, most observers believe FHFA would follow suit.
The mortgage giant’s $3.6 billion profit for the second quarter benefited by as much as $1 billion in revenue from the controversial adverse market refinance fee.
Rob Zimmer, head of external communications for CMLA, described it this way: "It’s a terrible policy idea, given that only the middle class pays it. Wealthy households paying cash for homes or using jumbo mortgages won’t pay a dime."
If mortgage lenders thought g-fees might decline this fall, they may be gravely disappointed. Meanwhile, the adverse market refi fee clearly boosted Freddie Mac’s 2Q21 results.
Lenders argue that Thompson should focus on reversing unpopular policies initiated when Mark Calabria was FHFA director. They point to unvetted credit requirements and the product caps included in the PSPAs.
The Supreme Court remanded a portion of the case, leaving it for the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals to decide how to handle the question of whether the unconstitutional nature of FHFA’s leadership structure damaged shareholders and, if so, what kind of compensation they might be owed.