Housing finance reform

FHFA seeks to bring more transparency to GSE balance sheets

06/12/18

The agency proposed new minimum capital requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac that would only go into effect if the government ends its conservatorships.

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FHFA's Watt plows ahead on housing finance fixes

05/23/18

In the continued absence of legislation, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s regulator announced work on a new capital framework.

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Trump taps ex-Corker aide as head of Ginnie Mae

05/15/18

President Trump has nominated Michael Bright, the current acting president and chief operating officer of Ginnie Mae, to head the agency full time.

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Mnuchin wants GSE reform in 2019. There's a problem with that

04/30/18

The Treasury secretary has said that he doesn't see changes to the housing finance system happening this year, but he's hopeful something can be done after the elections.

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GSE reform unlikely to happen this year: Mnuchin

04/30/18

The Treasury secretary said reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will come into focus more in 2019, when Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mel Watt’s term will end.

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Don’t let the 30-year mortgage sway housing policy

03/20/18

As policymakers take another crack at housing finance reform, federal leaders and the housing lobby are once again perpetuating the false notion that ending government guarantees would cause the 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage to vanish.

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Charter creep concerns resurface in Freddie's new risk-sharing pilot

03/14/18

Freddie Mac and Arch Capital are testing a new form of risk-sharing deal to boost investor appetite for low down payment mortgages. But the pilot is raising concerns about "charter creep" because it dictates private mortgage insurance decisions typically made by lenders.

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Trump picks CNBC anchor Kudlow as top economic adviser

03/14/18

President Trump is expected to announce as early as Thursday morning that he has selected Larry Kudlow, the host of CNBC's "The Kudlow Report," to replace Gary Cohn as head of the National Economic Council, according to multiple media reports.

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Housing market needs an explicit government guarantee

03/14/18

A clear government backstop for the mortgage market would benefit small banks and investors by ensuring a stable and liquid secondary market for securities.

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Top candidates to replace Gary Cohn

03/12/18

As head of the National Economic Council, Gary Cohn played a key role in helping guide the Trump administration on its financial services policy, including on regulatory relief and housing finance reform. Institutions are anxiously watching to see who President Trump picks as Cohn's replacement.

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