Treasury’s stake in the GSEs should be used to create a joint venture focused on affordable housing. Also, to ensure success, Fannie and Freddie should be converted into utilities, two industry pros recommend.

USMI criticized the increased use of appraisal waivers for refis with high-LTV ratios, which help determine g-fees and insurance premiums.

HUD’s Housing Trust Fund and Treasury’s Capital Magnet Fund will get a combined $1.09 billion, more than double their take in 2019.

Spikes in amortization income, guarantee-fee income and credit-related expenses are all closely tied to the government’s intervention in the coronavirus crisis. (Includes data chart.)

Freddie Mac’s Voluntary Early Retirement Program resulted in 600 buyouts by the end of 2020, but salaries and benefits expenses actually rose in the short term.

Fannie may no longer be competing with Freddie when it comes to CRT market share. It may now be chasing JPMorgan Chase for second place.

Because of the terms of the CARES Act, not only are borrowers in forbearance allowed to skip their monthly payments, but servicers are prevented from reporting their mortgages as past due.

If the GSEs’ margins from the first three quarters of 2020 hold, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could earn combined profits of $19.9 billion for the year.

New Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has yet to pick who will lead housing policy and GSE reform in the Biden administration. However, liberal think tanks may be a good place to look.

The MBA said it will continue to negotiate the suspect provision of the PSPA, while Rob Zimmer of the CMLA hinted at efforts to abrogate the new rule.