FHFA’s new director told the House Financial Services Committee that politicians must decide what the future of housing finance looks like.

FHA premium cuts are being closely analyzed by HUD while FHFA and Treasury have had no talks about reforming the GSEs through the PSPAs. MBA also pressed FHFA on LLPA changes for conforming jumbos and mortgages for second homes.

The Biden administration and Congress need to address some major risks to the housing-finance system, according to the Government Accountability Office. The administration is still developing plans and there’s little urgency in Congress.

The mortgage industry has resigned itself to no administrative end to the Fannie and Freddie conservatorships. It’s still unclear what happens to the GSEs’ capital requirements.

Mortgage industry stakeholders are on the same page with affordable housing and minority rights groups, at least when it comes to the FHFA’s proposal to require Fannie and Freddie to have concrete plans to improve equity in mortgage lending.

The CFPB and the FHFA are no longer quasi-independent agencies insulated from the whims of the White House.

The key concern among the industry is the GSEs’ reliance on loan-to-value ratios and debt-to-income ratios. They recommend Fannie and Freddie develop alternative underwriting criteria for low-income borrowers.

Progressives call on Biden to pick Sandra Thompson, the first African American and the first woman to head the agency, for the top position. Not incidentally, she may also be the most qualified for the job.

Trade groups run a victory lap over the Biden administration decision to end Trump-era restrictions on the GSEs.

Analysts speculate on the apparent choice of Mike Calhoun as FHFA director even though the White House has yet to formally nominate him.