Mortgages

Led by Rep. French Hill, the group of conservative lawmakers said the agency must do more to ensure appropriate transparency regarding any new products or activities that the enterprises undertake.

The government-sponsored enterprises divested themselves of the largest share of these loans since they first began selling them in 2014, a Federal Housing Finance Agency report found.

The 18.5% increase in Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's purchase authority was the driver of a 41% decrease in higher balance originations between December and January.

Prices are starting to fall in one of the most expensive cities in the U.S. but they are still much higher than their pre-pandemic levels.

The former lender’s abrupt closure Wednesday and First Guaranty’s recent bankruptcy filing highlight difficulties in the current mortgage environment despite nonbanks being on stronger financial footing than their counterparts of 14 and 24 years ago.

Average purchase-loan amounts shrank for the second week in a row and are currently 12% below their record size in March.

But second home sales — which were below pre-pandemic levels for the first time in 24 months during May — may slow in the future as those in vulnerable areas get tougher to insure.

The move builds on the government-sponsored enterprise’s previous program that facilitated the collection of more rent payment records from tenants who work with its multifamily borrowers.

The median prices for the most sought-after metro areas were on average $128,000 lower than in the city the buyer was leaving, Freddie Mac's study of Loan Product Advisor data found.

Industry leaders suggested they’ve "never felt so worried at a time when everything feels so good otherwise," said Chris Herbert, managing director of the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.