Sharp staff cuts at FHA, VA and Ginnie Mae could lead to major problems for mortgage lenders and borrowers, according to analysts. But for now it appears to be business as usual for originations and servicing.
FHA extends foreclosure moratorium tied to LA wildfires; HUD rescinds Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing rule; CSBS seeks Ginnie servicing reforms; RHS delays servicing changes; Rate offers complimentary, temporary insurance for first responders; bill in Senate would speed mortgage processing at Bureau of Indian Affairs.
The FHA wasn’t spared from the Trump administration’s workforce reduction plan. Some industry observers fear the layoffs will slow underwriting times and delay closings.
The Senate voted 55-44 to confirm Scott Turner as housing secretary, paving the way for the Trump administration to install new leadership at FHA and Ginnie Mae.
The pause was ultimately rescinded following court injunctions. In the meantime, participants in government-insured mortgage programs faced uncertainty.
GAO called for Ginnie Mae to develop processes for participating in interagency exercises, noting that FHFA did a better job than Ginnie in an FSOC effort aimed at addressing the likely failure of a major nonbank mortgage company.
Housing Secretary nominee Scott Turner offered few specifics during his confirmation hearing last week. But he outlined plans to review agency programs and maximize their budgets.
Ginnie Mae last week proposed a new pool type to allow repooling of home equity conversion mortgages that have reached their buyout limit. Comments on the HMBS 2.0 term sheet are due July 31.
FHA Commissioner Julia Gordon and Ginnie Mae Senior Vice President of Capital Markets John Getchis spoke during a recent Ginnie Latin America Roundtable in Washington, DC.
The volume of FHA loans securitized into Ginnie mortgage-backed securities grew 20.5% between March and April, to $18.39 billion. VA loan production sent to Ginnie increased at an even higher rate. (Includes two data charts.)
The creation of a U.S. sovereign wealth fund could grease the skids for an end to the conservatorships of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
News Tailored to Your Needs
Get Focused Coverage
Inside Mortgage Finance's newsletters break the mortgage market down so you get the news and data you need most, whether it's total industry coverage or just the news related to securitization, regulation, profits or other specific topics.
RSS