https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/rss en-us dhollier@imfpubs.com Construction loans may be too risky for the GSEs to purchase at scale, but Fannie has other products that help increase and preserve supply. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238040 Fri, 24 Jul 2026 15:55:22 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238040-fannies-supply-problem-strategies bivey@imfpubs.com Lenders aren’t stretching to goose originations of GSE or government-insured loans. Issuance of agency MBS was fairly stable through the first half of 2026 and underwriting standards held firm, regardless of the presence of primary MI. (Includes three data tables.) http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238045 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:10:04 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238045-primary-mi-volume-characteristics-stable-in-second-quarter dhollier@imfpubs.com MBS disclosures show that, from April to June, VantageScore 4.0 has only been used to qualify roughly $579 million in mortgages in Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac pools. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238051 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:06:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238051-vantagescore-40-uptake-still-scant bivey@imfpubs.com Equifax CEO dismisses concerns about lenders gaming the GSEs’ underwriting standards; Fannie’s home price survey marches on. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238060 Thu, 23 Jul 2026 12:00:15 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/238060-grapevine-no-incentive-to-game-scores-fannie-still-surveying-economists dhollier@imfpubs.com Historic data appear to show that FICO 10T credit scores are slightly more accurate than VantageScore 4.0 at predicting defaults. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237990 Thu, 16 Jul 2026 11:12:22 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237990-comparing-fico-10t-to-vantagescore-40 bivey@imfpubs.com President Trump has until July 10 to take action on housing bill; GSEs release data on FICO 10T; CFPB seeks feedback on mortgage disclosures and borrowers’ right of rescission; interest rate outlook. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237938 Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:00:55 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237938-grapevine-housing-bill-still-in-limbo-credit-scoring-model-developments dhollier@imfpubs.com Demographic shifts mean demand is falling. Meanwhile supply is increasing, raising the potential for falling home prices and fewer originations. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237825 Thu, 25 Jun 2026 11:51:47 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237825-the-coming-housing-glut dhollier@imfpubs.com The FHFA director told homebuilders that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac probably won’t play a big role in construction finance, but the Federal Home Loan Banks may expand their participation in the sector. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237762 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:08:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237762-despite-dni-gig-pulte-still-making-fhfa-plans dhollier@imfpubs.com The Broker Action Coalition says that if the borrower pays for a credit report, they should own it, a concept it believes could significantly reduce closing costs. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237769 Thu, 18 Jun 2026 09:04:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237769-brokers-step-up-push-for-portable-credit-scores bivey@imfpubs.com MBS investors aren’t sure how VantageScore scores compare with classic FICO scores. And a variety of systems used in the mortgage market need to be updated to allow for two scoring models. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237694 Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:08:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237694-many-hurdles-to-widespread-adoption-of-vantagescore jdohnert@imfpubs.com VantageScore’s CEO said he doesn’t think FICO’s trended data score will be operational with the GSEs anytime soon. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237695 Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:07:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237695-vantagescore-ready-to-take-on-fico-in-mortgage dhollier@imfpubs.com Critics say the FHFA director is woefully underqualified to lead national intelligence. The impact on FHFA is also unclear. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237701 Thu, 11 Jun 2026 12:04:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237701-director-pulte-vs-dni-pulte dhollier@imfpubs.com Following adoption by the 30-largest lenders, VantageScore will focus on making sure technology providers and smaller lenders are prepared to implement its new credit score model. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237638 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:08:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237638-whats-next-for-vantagescore-40 dhollier@imfpubs.com Lender trade groups argue that the expanded use of alternative valuations by the GSEs will improve the reliability of appraisals. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237646 Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:02:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237646-mortgage-industry-endorses-appraisal-modernization dhollier@imfpubs.com Early interest in the VantageScore 4.0 pilot has been strong, but participants note that the new score can be up to 100 points different from Classic FICO. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237532 Thu, 21 May 2026 12:00:10 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237532-vantagescore-uptake-matches-expectations nbhatia@imfpubs.com On a year-to-date basis, Rocket’s deliveries to the GSEs more than doubled from the first four months of 2025, driven by its acquisition of Mr. Cooper, which was finalized on Oct. 1. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237504 Mon, 18 May 2026 11:59:00 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237504-rocket-mortgage-top-gse-seller-in-april bivey@imfpubs.com FICO and VantageScore disagree on how lenders in a GSE pilot are using VantageScore. FICO’s CEO claims there are LTV ratio limitations and a haircut with VantageScore. VantageScore said that’s not the case. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237403 Thu, 07 May 2026 12:07:18 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237403-policies-for-vantagescore-use-involving-gses-murky dhollier@imfpubs.com Despite ending his long hiatus on GSE talk, Trump fails to persuade skeptics that he’s ready to take Fannie and Freddie out of conservatorship anytime soon. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237398 Thu, 07 May 2026 12:06:20 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237398-trump-comments-revive-ipo-speculation dhollier@imfpubs.com Stakeholders are speculating on the next steps for bringing the new credit scores to market without complete transparency. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237337 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:06:39 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237337-operational-challenges-for-lenders-implementing-vantagescore-40 sclark@imfpubs.com The trade group said a single-pull credit report is enough, if there are proper guardrails in place to prevent lenders and borrowers from “gaming the system.” http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237322 Thu, 30 Apr 2026 12:05:41 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237322-mba-offers-more-parameters-for-single-pull-credit-score dhollier@imfpubs.com FHFA Director Bill Pulte said 21 large lenders will roll out the new score with the GSEs, though all lenders are eligible. FHA also plans to accept VantageScore and FICO 10T. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237281 Thu, 23 Apr 2026 12:10:06 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237281-vantagescore-40-is-a-go dhollier@imfpubs.com Industry watchers believe the abruptly cancelled FHFA/HUD press conference was tied to implementation of VantageScore 4.0. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237195 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:25:30 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237195-fhfa-and-hud-postpone-major-housing-announcement jdohnert@imfpubs.com Real estate professionals argue that private listings can be a net negative for homebuyers and sellers. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237207 Thu, 16 Apr 2026 11:23:42 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237207-private-listings-may-impact-home-valuations dhollier@imfpubs.com Stakeholders believe that while the new rules will reduce insurance costs, they will raise other costs, including for condo dwellers who don’t plan to buy, sell or refinance. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237029 Thu, 26 Mar 2026 12:06:25 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/237029-concerns-emerge-for-new-condo-rules bivey@imfpubs.com Two Harbors seeking more votes in favor of acquisition by UWM; GSEs to ease standards for condo insurance; DOJ subpoenas to Fed rejected. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/236972 Thu, 19 Mar 2026 13:49:13 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/236972-grapevine-two-harbors-vote-extended-gses-loosen-homeowners-insurance-standards dhollier@imfpubs.com The three major consumer reporting agencies are using discounted pricing and other strategies to drive adoption of VantageScore 4.0 among mortgage lenders. The score is the main competitor to FICO. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/236905 Thu, 12 Mar 2026 11:39:48 -0400 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/236905-vantagescore-pricing-dips jdohnert@imfpubs.com Talk of a capital raise for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac has waned in recent months, leading some policy experts to question whether the Trump administration has the appetite to take the GSEs public. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/236774 Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:05:06 -0500 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/236774-uncertainty-grows-on-gses-exiting-conservatorship dhollier@imfpubs.com House Republicans said they’re drafting legislation that would end the conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/236697 Thu, 19 Feb 2026 11:52:18 -0500 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/236697-congress-returns-to-the-conservatorship-debate dhollier@imfpubs.com The big homebuilders are purportedly planning to build a million starter homes to sell through a rent-to-own program. The Trump administration has distanced itself from any such proposal. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/236644 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 11:35:18 -0500 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/236644-the-trump-homes-proposal dhollier@imfpubs.com Former Freddie CEO believes most prospective remedies to the affordability crisis will benefit only borrowers who don’t need the help. http://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/236656 Thu, 12 Feb 2026 11:34:20 -0500 https://www.insidemortgagefinance.com/articles/236656-are-gses-an-efficient-tool-to-address-affordability