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 7.54%

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s latest Forbearance and Call Volume Survey showed loans now in forbearance increased from 6.99% of servicers’ portfolio volume in the prior week to 7.54% as of April 26. According to MBA’s estimate, 3.8 million homeowners are now in forbearance plans.

Andrew Foster: Case-By-Case–Commercial Mortgage Forbearance Consideration Begins

While the hope remains that the recession will be short-lived with a strong recovery in the second half of 2020, commercial real estate typically lags the broader economy. Any quick relief for the commercial mortgage industry will be due in part to government relief efforts. It will take patience from market participants before a clear picture of various outcomes emerges, in part because so much of the CRE finance market impacted by COVID-19 is entering into forbearance agreements.

GSEs: No Lump Sum Required at End of Forbearance

he Federal Housing Finance Agency, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issued announcements yesterday reiterating borrowers in forbearance with a Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac-backed mortgage are not required to repay the missed payments in one lump sum.

FHFA: GSEs Will Purchase Qualified Loans in Forbearance

The Federal Housing Finance Agency said it would approve purchase of certain single-family mortgages in forbearance that meet specific eligibility criteria by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

FHFA, CFPB Announce Borrower Protection Program

The Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced the Borrower Protection Program, a joint initiative that enables CFPB and FHFA to share servicing information to protect borrowers during the coronavirus national emergency.

Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Extend URLA Implementation Timeline

Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae announced yesterday they will extend the implementation timeline for the redesigned Uniform Residential Loan Application and automated underwriting systems to support the industry during the COVID-19 pandemic.

MBA Takes Issue with Calabria’s Downplay of Need for Servicer Liquidity Facility

The Mortgage Bankers Association called “troubling” comments by Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mark Calabria in which he dismissed the immediate need for a federally backed liquidity facility to assist mortgage servicers with forbearance efforts resulting from the coronavirus pandemic.