Last week, FHFA Director Mel Watt gave a speech at the Bipartisan Center in which he declared the GSEs' lack of capital to be their biggest risk, and that he expects that risk to escalate as the conservatorships continue. Will that risk spur the government to end the conservatorships after almost eight years?
Read More »Watt: Risks Facing FHFA are ‘Certain to Escalate’ as Conservatorships Continue
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are required by law to reduce their capital buffer to zero by January 1, 2018. If their losses exceed their capital buffer, they would require another draw from Treasury.
Read More »FHFA Makes a Push to Reach HARP-Eligible Borrowers in Program’s Final Months
For a program that was only supposed to be temporary, HARP is still going rather strong as the Federal Housing Finance Agency makes one final push to get more homeowners refinanced.
Read More »GSE Serious Delinquency Rate is Lowest Since Start of Conservatorships
Mortgages backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are performing at a level not seen since September 2008, when the conservatorships began.
Read More »FHFA Allows for Third Parties to Solve Loan Repurchase Disputes
The IDR process is specifically designed to address alleged loan-level breaches of selling representations or warranties that remain unresolved after completion of the appeals process.
Read More »Will Royal Bank of Scotland be the Next to Settle RMBS Fraud Claims?
Out of 18 firms sued by the FHFA in 2011 over RMBS fraud, RBS is the only one not to have resolved their case through either settlement or trial.
Read More »Serious Delinquency Numbers Continue Shrinking
Fewer and fewer residential mortgage loans are seriously delinquent (90 or more days past due) as the crisis passes its seven-year anniversary. What factors are driving the continued decline?
Read More »How Effective are Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac at Preventing Foreclosures?
It may be tougher to qualify for a mortgage loan to buy a home now than it was 10 years ago. But at least Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are helping borrowers who already have homes to stay in them.
Read More »Watchdog Recommends FHFA Enhance Risk Assessment Audits for GSEs
Despite having similar business models and charters, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have significant variations in risk assessments between them. What does the OIG recommend is the best way to reduce these variations?
Read More »Kick Off: Ho-Ho-Housing News Ahead Despite Holiday Week
It's a holiday week, but key metrics that drive housing aren't taking time off.
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