If confirmed as Treasury’s head of domestic finance, Jonathan McKernan could have a say in whether the GSEs are released from conservatorship. If so, he may have to renounce an FHFA rule created when he was senior counsel at the agency.

At the urging of FHFA Director Bill Pulte, Freddie is accelerating its release of “on hold” technologies that may help cut origination costs.

Fannie’s Desktop Underwriter and Freddie’s Loan Product Advisor were both updated to include FHFA’s 2025 area median income figures. The changes affect eligibility for duty-to-serve and affordable housing programs.

Using HMDA data, an academic researcher shows that the guarantee fees charged by the GSEs are above-market rate based on risk-adjusted profits.

Fannie announces tender offer; Freddie prices SLST securitization; winners announced for Fannie NPL sale.

Rent payment history and bank account income verification are just the start. Machine learning algorithms also promise better risk assessment and more accurate pricing for that risk.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac both saw a significant increase in CRT issuance in the first quarter. Fannie also boosted credit-risk insurance purchases, but ACIS purchases were down at Freddie. (Includes data table.)

Trump noted that Fannie and Freddie are “doing very well and throwing off a lot of CASH.”

Social and green bonds from the GSEs have seen strong demand.

It’s not clear how the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s decision to cut the DEI and ESG programs at the GSEs will impact MBS issuance.