GSEs

Fannie Mae economists suggest home sales will remain resilient amid anticipated dips in both home loan volume and consumer spending.

The government-sponsored enterprise financed 955,000 mortgages last year, down from the 1.8 million loans it backed in 2022.

But Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conducted no private-market sales of nonperforming loans early last year as adjustments were made to the program.

The mortgages are part of a program that received congressional scrutiny earlier this year.

The government-sponsored enterprises have consistently earmarked some distressed loans for community, nonprofit and minority investors. Certain Democrats want more.

Industry executives coming off a tough year are wondering what the transition will cost and how many borrowers it'll bring in.

A vast majority of the pool, 86.35%, consists of primary homes. Investment properties and secondary homes, meanwhile, account for 11.29% and 2.36% of the collateral.

Over one-third of the struggling borrowers who received recast loan terms in the first quarter cut their monthly obligation by 20% or more.

Fee hikes at the government-sponsored enterprises are one remedy, the government-sponsored enterprise's regulator noted in its annual report to Congress.

During her opening remarks before lawmakers Tuesday, the head of the Federal Housing Finance Agency reiterated that borrowers with strong credit profiles are not being penalized to benefit those with poorer scores.