National Mortgage News, July 29, 2021–Hannah Lang (subscription)The Senate’s nearly $1 trillion bipartisan infrastructure proposal would be partially funded with an extension of the hike in guarantee fees charged by …
Category: Top National News
The Coming Mortgage Refinance Wave
Yahoo! News, July 26, 2021–Sam RoMortgage Bankers Association chief economist Mike Fratantoni tells Axios that while mortgage rates are very low, they were slightly lower late last year. And so …
Nonbank Lenders Balk at Ginnie Mae Capital Plan
National Mortgage News, July 26, 2021–Kate Berry (subscription)A Ginnie Mae proposal to introduce a risk-based capital requirement for nonbanks has sparked an outcry from mortgage lenders that originate the vast …
Why Hasn’t Climate Change Put A Dent In Luxury Real Estate?
Financial Advisor magazine, July 23, 2021–James TarmySome of the top performing luxury real estate markets in the U.S.—specifically Southern California, Colorado, and South Florida—have something less rosy in common: They’re …
Why Fannie Mae Doesn’t Want Home Appraisers Calling Neighborhoods ‘Desirable’
Bloomberg, July 23, 2021–Brentin MockFannie Mae is urging appraisers to stop using loaded language such as “crime-ridden area” and “integrated community” when valuing homes. Even saying something as seemingly benign …
Industry to Congress: G-fees Aren’t Your ‘Piggybank’
HousingWire, July 23, 2021–Georgia KromreiThe spectre of raising g-fees horrified industry stakeholders. Bill Killmer, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s senior vice president for legislative and political affairs, described g-fee increases as …
New Aid Coming for Mortgage Borrowers at Risk of Foreclosure
Wall Street Journal, July 23, 2021–Andrew Ackerman (subscription)The program would allow borrowers with loans backed by the Federal Housing Administration and other federal agencies to extend the length of their …
Will Lenders Refund Fees Paid for a Market Downturn that Never Materialized?
Orange County Register, July 22, 2021–Jeff LazersonThe federal government’s mortgage regulator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, mandated that lenders start charging an extra half-percentage point fee in December for all …
Homeowners Refinancing Federal Mortgages will Pay Less When Pandemic Fee Ends Aug. 1
Philadelphia Inquirer, July 22, 2021–Michaelle BondBob Broeksmit, president and chief executive officer of the association, said “With less than 2% of [Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac] loans in forbearance and …
Wave of Foreclosures Not Anticipated in Iowa as Moratorium Expires
Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier (Iowa), July 21, 2021–James LynchAs the federal moratorium on housing foreclosures comes to an end, lenders and financial counselors do not foresee a tsunami of foreclosures in …