June 26, 2013
FHFA: Critical Concerns Remain, Future Uncertain
The FHFA issued its 2012 Report to Congress which provides a report of the annual examinations of Fannie, Freddie and the FHLBs. The report documents critical concerns about Fannie and Freddie, none of which are particularly newsworthy at this late … Continue reading
June 26, 2013 in Federal Housing Finance Agency | Permalink | No Comments
June 14, 2013
These Are A Few of My Favorite Things
Along with raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, reforming Government-Sponsored Enterprises and rationalizing rating agency regulation are two of my favorite things. The Federal Housing Finance Agency noticed a proposed rulemaking to remove some of the references to credit … Continue reading
June 14, 2013 in Federal Housing Finance Agency | Permalink | No Comments
June 4, 2013
Effect of Qualified Mortgages on Credit Availability: Little to None
The Congressional Research Service has issued a somewhat opaque report, The Ability-to-Repay Rule: Possible Effects of the Qualified Mortgage Definition on Credit Availability and Other Selected Issues, that summarizes the Ability-to-Repay Rule. More importantly, it offers a bit of an … Continue reading
June 4, 2013 in Federal Housing Finance Agency | Permalink | No Comments
May 29, 2013
Risky Business Model for Homeowners?
The Mortgage Bankers Association issued a report, Up-Front Risk Sharing: Ensuring Private Capital Delivers for Consumers, intended to increase the role of the private sector in the portion of the mortgage market currently dominated by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. … Continue reading
May 29, 2013 in Federal Housing Finance Agency | Permalink | No Comments
May 21, 2013
Two (or Three) Cheers for DeMarco’s Swan Song
FHFA acting Director Edward Demarco gave a thoughtful speech, Housing Finance, Systemic Risk, and Returning Private Capital to the Mortgage Market, on the future of federal housing finance policy. Given that the Administration has nominated Mel Watt as his permanent replacement, … Continue reading
May 21, 2013 in Federal Housing Finance Agency | Permalink | No Comments
May 16, 2013
Reiss on Threats to Housing
CBS News interviewed me (and gave a shout out to REFinblog.com) about The 5 Biggest Threats to the Housing Recovery. It reads in part: 3. The government’s role in the mortgage market will change The U.S. government currently backs about … Continue reading
May 16, 2013 in Federal Housing Finance Agency | Permalink | No Comments
May 14, 2013
Reform for Whom?
David Stevens, the head of the Mortgage Bankers Association, gave an important and revealing speech about the direction of housing finance reform. It contains some good ideas, but also raises an alarm. Because the Administration and Congress are at an … Continue reading
May 14, 2013 in Federal Housing Finance Agency | Permalink | No Comments
