Housing finance system needs updates, not overhaul
With lawmakers bracing for a major policy undertaking to reform the government-sponsored enterprises, they can take comfort that they don’t need to start from scratch. ... Read full article
News Topic: GSE reform
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Small lenders, consumer groups offer GSE reform alternative
The Main Street GSE Reform Coalition offered three principles: creating a capital buffer for Fannie and Freddie, continuing with reforms by their regulator and ending the conservatorship that began in 2008. ... Read full article
The tricky calculus of housing finance reform
The Senate is set to begin teeing up housing finance reform discussions at a Banking Committee hearing on Thursday, but many are skeptical that Congress will be able to succeed where it has failed in the past. ... Read full article
Small lenders need to be in room where GSE debate happens
A key question for the future of housing finance is whether large and small lenders will both be able to compete, or will a new system favor Wall Street giants? ... Read full article
‘Fannie and Freddie never needed a bailout’: Comments of the week
Readers chime in on the GSE conservatorships, bitcoin’s future, regulatory relief for regional banks, a recent Supreme Court ruling on debt collection, and more. ... Read full article
New GSE proposal seeks to fill capital void
As long as Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac exist, they must have adequate capital so taxpayers will never again be compelled to help them meet their financial obligations. ... Read full article
Fed promises more transparent stress tests; Barclays on blockchain
Fed Gov. Jerome Powell says central bank will provide more information to banks about how it conducts annual tests; bank CTO discusses its 2018 blockchain test. ... Read full article
Hensarling drops Durbin repeal; Court hears CFPB challenge
House financial services committee head agrees to drop swipe-fee repeal in order to save Financial Choice Act; Federal appeals court appears skeptical about declaring agency's makeup unconstitutional. ... Read full article
FHFA, Treasury should cooperate on GSE capital buffer, housing groups say
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac should be able to rebuild a capital buffer to avoid any potential crisis in the mortgage market, according to a coalition of affordable housing advocates, homebuilders and small mortgage lender groups. ... Read full article
FHFA on collision course with Congress over Fannie, Freddie
FHFA Director Mel Watt warned Thursday that to prevent a potential draw on the Treasury Department by the government-sponsored enterprises, he is willing to act unilaterally to rebuild capital at Fannie and Freddie. ... Read full article
'Why are they still being paid?': Comments of the week
Readers weigh in on Wells Fargo investors reelecting state regulators suing the OCC, Wells Fargo's annual meeting, ultralow interest rates and more. ... Read full article
A GSE risk we can no longer ignore: Doing nothing
Congressional action to reform housing finance is ultimately needed, but we must confront the risk of continued drift and inaction if Congress is unable to act. ... Read full article
MBA outlines privatization plan for Fannie, Freddie
The Mortgage Bankers Association released a detailed transition plan Thursday designed to help policymakers turn the government-sponsored enterprises into private guarantors of mortgage-backed securities. ... Read full article
A no-brainer for Trump team: Recapitalize the GSEs
Suspending Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac's regular dividend payments to the Treasury, thus enabling the companies to replenish their reserve capital, would put their future on better footing. ... Read full article