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Inside The GSEs

December 22, 2010

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GSEs Balk at Principal Reduction Program

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have once again become the rope in a tug of war between policymakers who want to see the GSEs become even more involved in the loan modification efforts from the White House, and those who fret that taxpayers will be exposed to another layer of liability and losses from the two companies. The latest struggle is... Read More

FHLBanks Face a Garrett Conundrum

The Republican ascension in the House of Representatives may pose a delicate political challenge for some of the Federal Home Loan Banks in the 112th Congress, which is slated to convene Jan. 5, 2011. When the Grand Old Party members of the House take up... Read More

GSE MBS Share Drops, Portfolios Perform Unevenly

Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s share of mortgage-backed securities outstanding slipped further than that of the overall market in the third quarter, with Freddie’s MBS outstanding slipping 4.5 percent and Fannie’s dropping...[Includes one data chart] Read More

GSE Serious Delinquencies Drop, Foreclosures Spike

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac home retention activity declined across the board in the third quarter, according to the latest GSE foreclosure prevention and refinance report released this week by the Federal Housing Finance Agency, mirroring the slowdown seen in the broader marketplace. Total home retention activity fell...[Includes one data chart] Read More

COP Calls into Question GSEs’ Effectiveness in HAMP

Following up on findings released earlier this year, the Congressional Oversight Panel’s December report cited a litany of failings that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are demonstrating in performing their respective roles in the Obama administration’s Home Affordable Modification Program. “In light of recent issues regarding... Read More

Financial Crisis Probe Takes a Partisan Turn

In what may prove to be an omen for the future of housing finance reform efforts in the 112th Congress, the Financial Crisis Inquiry Commission has been split by partisan bickering, with Republican members releasing their own dissenting report on the causes of the crisis, while the Democratic members continue... Read More

Is GSE Underwriting Having a Disparate Impact?

The upgrades Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have made to their underwriting criteria since being placed in conservatorship may be having a disproportionately negative effect on minority borrowers, according to some housing and community advocates. Earlier this month, the National Community Reinvestment Coalition released... Read More

Joseph Smith Nomination Unlikely to Get a Final Vote

Despite the surprisingly productive lame-duck session of Congress this month, it now seems unlikely that President Obama’s nomination of North Carolina Commissioner of Banks Joseph Smith to be the next head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency will face a vote before time expires. If that in fact proves... Read More

FHFA Final Rule Expands CFI Collateral for Advances

As per the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, the Federal Housing Finance Agency has issued a final rule that expands the kinds of eligible collateral that community financial institution members may pledge to secure Federal Home Loan Bank advances to include... Read More

News in Brief

CEOs at Atlanta, Pittsburgh Federal Home Loan Banks DepartThere are some changes at the helm of two Federal Home Loan Banks, as the CEOs at the FHLBanks of Atlanta and Pittsburgh are stepping down. In Atlanta's case, the board found... Read More

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