In a new report to its shareholders, Fairholme Capital Management notes the fund it manages owns a 4% position in the preferred shares of Freddie, “which currently trade at less than half of stated liquidation values, implying potential current yields of over 14% per annum.”
According to new figures released by Black Knight, mortgage prepayments declined by 7.5% in June despite mortgage rates being under the 4.0% threshold. The data analytics firm said it was the first decline in prepays in five months. Go figure…
How do you get out of a debt bubble? Answer: Raise taxes and cut spending, something U.S. politicians have been loath to do. Or you could print more money...
Of course, the whole point is moot though, isn’t it? Fannie and Freddie continue to be wards of the federal government. If they fail to meet a capital test, what’s the worst Uncle Sam can do? Put them in conservatorship? They’re already there...
Another round of funding for Blend means one of these days the industry vendor will have to go public because all those venture capital funders are going to want a return on their investment. And Blend had better not disappoint...