Tag Archives: FHFA

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced the launch of a new nationwide campaign intended to encourage eligible borrowers to contact their lenders about the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). "With the launch of this campaign we look forward to reaching those homeowners who may not know about the program or understand the eligibility criteria to take advantage of today's low interest rates by refinancing through HARP," said FHFA Acting Director Edward DeMarco.

Sen. Mark R. Warner (D-Virginia) is seeing tremendous momentum toward GSE reform in Congress, he said during a discussion with Zillow chief economist Stan Humphries this week. He also expressed his optimism that the Housing Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act of 2013--a bill he helped co-sponsor--"actually has a chance" of passing. Fellow co-sponsor Sen. Bob Corker (R-Tennessee), who was also part of the discussion with Humphries, expressed similar sentiment, saying the bill is "gaining momentum."

James B. Lockhart III, vice chairman of WL Ross & Co. and former director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, addressed a packed house at the inaugural Investment Symposium at the 10th Annual Five Star Conference and Expo. Lockhart's speech wound through many of today's biggest topics, including the current movement to dissolve the GSEs. He also praised Federal Reserve chair Ben Bernanke's leadership during the crisis, saying Bernanke's efforts to move the economy have been largely successful.

Mortgage rates rose from 3.57 percent to 4.07 percent over the second quarter, while total refinances completed through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac fell from about 1.4 million to about 1.3 million.

National data from the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) shows mortgage interest rates rising nearly half a percentage point from June to July. According to FHFA's index, which is based on new mortgage contracts, the contract interest rate on the composite of all mortgage loans was 4.00 percent, up 45 basis points from 3.55 percent in June. The effective interest rate (accounting for initial fees and charges over the life of the mortgage) was 4.12 percent, up from 3.67 percent.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) put out a release asking for public input on strategies for scaling back the GSEs' presence in the multifamily housing finance market in 2014.

A report from the Federal Housing Finance Agency Office of Inspector General (FHFA OIG) found a lack of borrower education is a critical barrier to the performance of the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP). "[M]any borrowers have not heard of the program, confuse the program with other government housing programs, or do not realize that they are eligible," the report stated. In address borrower misconceptions, FHFA announced plans to implement a nationwide public relations campaign to inform borrowers.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) index of new mortgage contracts shows interest rates climbing 0.15 percent from May to June. According to FHFA's Monthly Interest Rate Survey, the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders was 3.55 percent for loans closed in late June. As loans are typically locked in 30-45 days before a loan is closed, June's data reflect market rates from mid- to late May.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac together recorded 418,004 refinances in May, a drop from 463,587 in April but still well above May 2012's 341,185.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) reported 0.7 percent monthly price growth (seasonally adjusted) in May, according to its latest report. May's Home Price Index (HPI) was the 16th consecutive index to see monthly gains, according to the agency. For the nine census divisions, monthly price changes in May ranged from a low of -1.5 percent in the East South Central division to +1.8 percent in the South Atlantic division. On a year-over-year basis, the Pacific division took the top spot with a 15.8 percent price increase.