Loan Think

The FHFA director’s move this week to impose an “adverse market fee” of 0.5% on most refinanced mortgages will shift billions out of the hands of American consumers and into the hands of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac — and their private shareholders.

The key word is "temporary" with the FHA's quality control waiver expiring and not likely to be renewed.

Whalen: "It is tempting to think that low interest rates will cure all ills in the housing sector, but this view is seriously in error, as we learned in 2008."

The new normal created by the events so far in 2020 could make this the best year ever for lenders.

The Financial Stability Oversight Council’s plan to study the market explains very little about which activities or firms, like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, will be designated as systemically important. Here's some clearer guidance.

It starts with understanding investor, insurer and regulatory requirements and how they're interpreted and applied.

Any intention that Ginnie Mae may have had to slow prepayment rates by changing the rules on RPLs seems to be thwarted by the grim economic reality facing the big banks.

Down payment assistance programs remain an important tool for increasing minority homeownership, but especially more so because of the pandemic.

Congress should act in the next relief bill to provide the additional resources needed to build more affordable housing.

By providing flexibility for property tax payments localities can help keep local businesses going and maintain their tax base for the future.