Normally Trouble, Refinancings Are Boosting Some Mortgage Bonds

Bloomberg, Jan. 22, 2021–Christopher MaloneyWhen homeowners refinance their mortgages, bond investors often get hurt, but a small corner of the debt market is ironically benefiting from it.https://finance.yahoo.com/news/normally-trouble-refinancings-boosting-mortgage-130000845.html

Biden Team Lays Groundwork to Reverse Trump-Era Banking Policies

American Banker, Jan. 21, 2021–Brendan Pedersen (subscription)The new administration is wasting no time assembling a team of regulatory appointees and urging agencies to pause pending rules.https://www.americanbanker.com/news/biden-team-lays-groundwork-to-reverse-trump-era-banking-policies

Could California’s Shopping Centers Be a Housing Fix?

Bloomberg, Jan. 21, 2021–Patrick SissonA trio of bills propose plugging the state’s huge housing gap with commercial-to-residential conversions of strip malls. New research suggests it could work.https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-01-19/how-empty-shopping-centers-could-be-a-housing-fix?srnd=premium

Hedge Funds’ Bets on Fannie and Freddie Cause Pain

Wall Street Journal, Jan. 21, 2021–Juliet Chung, Andrew Ackerman (subscription)The end of the Trump administration is the end of the best hope for hedge-fund investors in a long and painful …

Former Cordray Aide Selected for Interim CFPB Post

National Mortgage News, Jan. 21, 2021–Kate Berry (subscription)Dave Uejio, who served as chief of staff to ex-Director Richard Cordray, was named by the Biden administration to lead the Consumer Financial …

FHFA Ponders Climate Risk for Fannie and Freddie

HousingWire, Jan. 20, 2021–Alex RohaThe Federal Housing Finance Agency announced it is requesting input on the current and future risk of natural disasters and climate change on Fannie Mae and …

Commercial Real Estate Debt Sustained by Central Bank Bond Buying

Wall Street Journal, Jan. 20, 2021–Anna Hirtenstein (subscription)Europe’s downtown office buildings are empty, and malls and main streets are deserted, yet the biggest landlords are staying afloat during the COVID-19 …

FHFA Extends Foreclosure, Eviction Moratorium to February

HousingWire, Jan. 19, 2021–Kelsey RamirezThe Federal Housing Finance Agency announced Tuesday that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will once again extend moratoriums on single-family foreclosures and real estate owned evictions, …