FHFA, GSEs Offer Payment Deferral as Repayment Option for COVID-19 Forbearance Plans

The Federal Housing Finance Agency on Wednesday said Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will employ a new payment deferral option allowing borrowers in COVID-19 related forbearance, who are able to return to making their normal monthly mortgage payment, the ability to repay their missed payments at the time the home is sold, refinanced, or at maturity.

MBA: Share of Mortgage Loans in Forbearance Increases to 7.91%

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s latest Forbearance and Call Volume Survey reported loans now in forbearance increased from 7.54% of servicers’ portfolio volume in the prior week to 7.91% as of May 3. MBA now estimates 4 million homeowners are now in forbearance plans.

ATTOM: Pre-COVID-19, Steady Rates for Equity-Rich Homeowners

ATTOM Data Solutions, Irvine, Calif., said data gathered before the impact of the coronavirus pandemic showed equity-rich American homeowners dipped slightly in the first quarter, even as the share of seriously underwater homeowners edged up.