Keeping Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac as-is? That’s no longer an option according to remarks heard by the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs today. But what’s necessary to push through reform? And what would the agencies look like on the other side? Today’s hearing offered much-needed insight.
Read More »Watt & Mnuchin Tackle GSE Reform
On Thursday, both FHFA Director Melvin L. Watt and Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin separately addressed the current state of the GSEs. Though Mnuchin discussed the priority of housing finance and regulatory reform in front of the Senate, at an industry conference Watt described the many successes of the FHFA in the last nine years. Watt warned that reforms made during conservatorship should not be ignored by congress during the reworking of housing finance reform.
Read More »Mnuchin: GSEs Won’t Stay ‘As-is’ for Long
In an interview with Fox Business on Monday, Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin said he is committed to GSE reform—and that it might not include privatizing Fannie or Freddie. The main goal of the Trump administration, according to Mnuchin, is to provide "ample credit for housing" without putting taxpayers at risk. On the fate of the GSE's, Mnuchin said, "We’re committed to not leaving them as-is for the next four years." Mnuchin also discussed the Freedom of Information Act allowed GSE funds to be relocated toward other parts of the government—including the Affordable Care Act—without public knowledge.
Read More »The Road to GSE Reform
How can the industry tackle GSE reform in the coming years? One housing expert weighs in. (Editor's Note: This select print feature originally appeared in the January 2017 issue of MReport magazine)
Read More »Credit Unions Weigh in on GSE Reform
The chief of the National Association of Federal Credit Unions has asked Congress to keep certain principles in mind while drafting a plan to overhaul Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
Read More »Taking on the Challenge of GSE Reform
Mark Zandi, Chief Economist with Moody's Analytics, recently spoke with MReport about the need for GSE reform and about the proposed creation of a corporation to replace the GSEs.
Read More »Lawmakers Not Giving Up on GSE Reform
The bill, called the HR 5505 GSE Review and Reform Act, would require the U.S Treasury Secretary to study the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s conservatorship of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac annually.
Read More »Housing Advocates to FHFA: GSEs Need to Rebuild Capital
Housing finance reform is once again taking center stage as several industry stakeholders have sounded off on the topic, stressing the importance of protecting taxpayers and the mortgage industry in general.
Read More »What Would Housing Finance Reform Look Like Under Clinton?
Clinton's hiring of former NEC Director Gene Sperling may give an indication of which direction she plans to go with GSE reform.
Read More »Center-Right Coalition Urges GSE Reform
Most everyone agrees that the conservatorships need to end, but cannot agree on how. What did a conservative coalition propose as the solution?
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