Mortgage REITs came back from the brink this week, but the sector is not out of the woods quite yet. Thanks to the coronavirus, financial uncertainty remains the watchword.
Calabria’s remarks were part of a broader outline summarizing the impact the crisis has had on mortgage markets and the actions the FHFA has taken in response.
A resumption in quantitative easing — at a pace that dwarfs asset purchases during the financial crisis — is just one of several Fed actions to keep credit markets functioning through the coronavirus crisis.
To reduce contact between appraisers and homeowners, the government-sponsored enterprises will accept an exterior-only inspection or a desktop appraisal. Income verification requirements have also been eased.