Fannie alerts seller/servicers to stiffer fraud detection rules. For example, lenders have 24 hours to report any borrower if they’re found on the Department of Treasury’s foreign assets control sanctions list.

The GSE ditched its energy efficiency home improvement loan product in favor of a more generic product targeting smaller projects. The new HomeStyle Refresh product becomes available at the end of March.

UI researchers explore whether the GSEs, by accepting new loan products, can help alleviate the lock-in effect and improve affordability for homebuyers.

Underwriters should understand that neighborhood, subdivision and market area are distinct terms used in property appraisal.

Freddie Mac taps a new CEO; Waters lashes out at Pulte; DOJ denies investigation into the FHFA director.

RiskSpan is piloting a platform that would provide the FHLBanks much more precise and timely views into the status and quality of the mortgage loans pledged against their advances.

The MBA advanced a proposal to limit the tri-merge requirements on GSE mortgages to applicants with credit scores below 700, in an effort to reduce the cost of originating loans. Some argue that the real problem is pulling scores for borrowers who are never going to qualify for a mortgage.

Kenny Smith worked at Deloitte for more than 25 years before retiring in 2020. He isn’t well known among mortgage industry participants.

Fannie recently considered strengthening its net worth requirements for large nonbank issuers.

Fannie’s MBS holdings spiked to $54.65 billion as of the end of the month.