Debate Rages Over GSE Principal Writedowns As FHFA Mulls Treasury Offer to Pay Incentives
April 5, 2012
The Federal Housing Finance Agency expects to finish its latest assessment of principal reductions on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans sometime this month against a backdrop of intensifying public debate over the issue. The Treasury Department this week fought back against claims that its proposed incentive payments to the government-sponsored enterprises, if they agree to principal reduction loan mods, would be a backdoor bailout for banks that service these loans. Treasury earlier this year offered to pay the GSEs the same incentives that other investors get for principal reduction loan mods under...