Don Layton believes the new 2022 loan limits will cause home prices to increase even more, but the politicization of the housing-finance system makes it unlikely FHFA will be able to do anything about it.

Mike Calhoun, CEO of the Center for Responsible Lending, was once thought to be Biden’s choice to run FHFA. Last week, he added his voice to the chorus of endorsements for Sandra Thompson’s nomination.

The new goals don’t deviate dramatically from what the agency proposed in August, but the mulitfamily goals will only apply to 2022 instead of the usual three-year time span.

Appraisers frequently use free-form text fields in their valuation reports to describe neighborhoods in ways that appear to violate fair lending regulations.

Only 16 examiners have completed the agency’s examiner commissioning program since it was founded in 2013.

The agency believes enforcing fair housing laws is central to its role as regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

Under a proposed rule, Fannie and Freddie will have to describe their sources of capital over a five-year planning horizon.

In 2022, the GSEs will be able to purchase loans nearing $1 million, cutting into what has typically been the non-agency jumbo market.

Critics argue that the mechanical method for determining the loan limits distorts the market and makes it harder for the GSEs to meet their affordable housing goals.

Plaintiffs in Collins v. Yellen promptly informed the Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals of the former president’s recent letter to Sen. Rand Paul, R-KY, possibly forestalling a decision by the court.