For one-unit properties, the baseline conforming loan limit will be $832,750 in 2026.

FHFA’s bid to reduce the GSEs’ low- and very-low-income benchmarks was praised by some lender groups, but disparaged by affordable housing advocates.

A new bill seeks to require FHFA to create a public database of information on all mortgage appraisals. The proposal comes as the Trump administration disbanded the Biden-era task force created to address appraisal bias.

By some estimates, the average short sale or a foreclosure costs the GSEs $19,000 more than putting the borrower through a home-retention program.

Trade groups and consumer advocacy groups sent comments to FHA on a draft proposal from late November introducing a permanent loss-mitigation waterfall.

Although FHFA’s re-proposed rule takes into account many industry comments, stakeholders are seeking more clarification.

Industry stakeholders have largely applauded the nomination of Scott Turner as secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development, citing his experience and leadership.

In some high-cost areas, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will be eligible to purchase mortgage loans as high as $1,209,750 for one-unit properties in 2025.

The CFPB is looking into whether it’s necessary to recertify a borrower’s ability to repay a rate-term mortgage refinance, Kevin Stevens, a senior manager at the bureau, said at a Mortgage Bankers Association conference held in Washington, DC, last week.

The Mortgage Bankers Association and the Housing Policy Council have called for specific changes to the proposed updates to FHA’s defect taxonomy for servicing loan reviews.