The trade groups argue that the GSEs are key providers of liquidity to the housing market, especially in these troubled times and any mistakes will damage the nation’s mortgage finance system.

In these high-cost areas, the maximum GSE loan limit bumps up to 150% of the base limit, or $822,375.

Michael Bright: “SFA reiterates our support for the ultimate goal of releasing the GSEs from conservatorship and to increase the role of private capital in our nation’s housing finance system in a responsible manner"...

Klain was a registered Fannie Mae lobbyist from 2002 to 2005...

Meanwhile, over at Fannie Mae, repurchases fell 19.7% to just $12.7 million.

Sens. Warner and Rounds both serve on the Senate Banking Committee. Virginia, Warner's legislative turf, is home to Freddie Mac.

In a 12-page fact sheet on the announcement, the regulator notes the final rule is “similar in key respects to the proposed rule, with certain enhancements and other changes made in response to comments.”

The estimated $822 billion of conventional-conforming lending set a quarterly record and represented 72.1% of the huge third-quarter wave of mortgage originations.

George Mangiaracina: “Without getting into specifics ... margins are 50% better in GSE than they are non-QM.”