Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should standardize their programs and policies that impact cash flows in preparation for the new Uniform Mortgage Backed Security, according to a proposed rule issued by the Federal Housing Finance Agency this week. The proposed rule incorporates recent input from the Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association. The regulator noted that standardizing policies that affect cash flows to investors in to-be-announced MBS will benefit market participants and homeowners. “By instituting regulations that further standardize those products, the proposed rule and the UMBS would reduce complexity and the cost of analytics set to be introduced in the second quarter of 2019,” said the FHFA, adding that it will also help encourage a broader investor base.