Lenders should help borrowers buy down interest rates to help close the racial homeownership gap, experts said recently.

The Federal Home Loan Banks should do more to fulfill their affordable housing goals, according to an industry analyst.

Patrick McHenry, R-NC, new chair of the House Financial Services Committee, is viewed as a consensus-maker. But will his politics make it difficult to find common ground with the White House and Senate?

Servicers of FHA-insured loans have until April 30 to implement the revised loss-mitigation program.

Upfront fees will decline for most low-income borrowers, but will increase for some middle-income homebuyers. The result is more cross-subsidy for the GSEs’ mission-based activities.

Trade groups say small and mid-sized independent mortgage bankers don’t need more federal supervision because they pose no systemic risk.

Fannie and Freddie will soon be able to purchase mortgage loans in excess of $1 million.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency will eliminate certain upfront loan-level price adjustments while implementing “targeted” increases for most cash-out refinance transactions. The agency also approved two new credit scoring models for Fannie and Freddie.

Despite a tough economic environment, FHA Commissioner Julia Gordon believes the administration is “making progress” to expand access to credit.

The private pow-wow revealed broad agreement between government, industry and advocacy groups on how to deal with the nation’s affordable housing shortage.