Tag Archives: Fannie Mae

The April Economic and Housing Outlook report from Fannie Mae paints a steady picture of an economy the GSE expects to give no big surprises. The combination of potential political unrest home and abroad and a smoothly growing housing market are keeping the GSE’s predictions on the safe side. Still, housing is a significant bright spot this year.

Surveys show a March slump in consumer confidence after gains in the previous two months. Fannie Mae's Home Purchase Sentiment Index cited concerns about the economy, job status, and income among the factors contributing to the backslide in confidence. Those expecting mortgage rates to rise also rose in a manner comparable to 2013 numbers.

According to a paper released by Fannie Mae on Thursday, educational attainment can increase the likelihood a young adult will buy a home. The paper’s findings showed a decrease in young adult homeownership since the Great Recession, as well as a dip in the likelihood of a 25- to 34-year-old to buy a home.

According to a Progress Report released by the Federal Housing Finance Agency on Wednesday, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have made significant movement on goals set forth by FHFA in the 2016 Scorecard. The report notes credit risk transfer programs that reduce taxpayer risk and improved access to credit as just a few of the developments in the last year.

Fannie Mae’s survey respondents point to competition from other lenders and market trend changes, such as a shift from refinance to purchases, as top reasons for low profit margins. However, respondents point to government regulatory compliance, a historically top reason for lenders’ decreased profit outlooks, as a lesser reason.

With proposals to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac popping up as part of an overall housing makeover, government and industry officials weigh the risks and rewards of various plans carefully since few are calling for wholesale reform. This select print feature originally appeared in the March 2017 issue of MReport magazine.

The two transactions will retain risk for the first 50 basis points of loss on an $18.1 billion loan pool and a $2.3 billion loan pool. The loan pools covered consist of 30-year fixed-rate loans with loan-to-value ratios greater than 60-percent and less than or equal to 80 percent, all acquired by Fannie Mae from January 2016 through July 2016.

The plans are ambitious. According to FHFA’s update report on Release 2, the agency has two main objectives in undertaking the UMBS initiative. The first is to establish a single, liquid market for the mortgage-backed securities issued by both GSEs that are backed by fixed-rate loans. The second is to maintain the liquidity of the that market over time.

One of the world’s top rating agencies warned that sweeping or high-level changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could unleash a host of unintended consequences.

GSE says slow consumer spending in January should not dampen the national economy. Jobs and residential construction key to GDP growth.