Trump administration lays out 5-year goals for Fannie, Freddie

Equitable housing and climate change risk are out, deregulation and combating fraud are in. The plan sheds little light on Trump administration’s bid to spur homebuilders into expanding housing supply. Continue reading

Rocket Mortgage rolls out bullish $822,550 conforming loan limit

The 2.4 percent increase ahead of an official announcement in November surpasses more cautious 1.5 percent increases adopted last month by UWM, Pennymac, CrossCountry and Rate. Continue reading

Feds bust real estate execs in $25.9M scheme against homeless

Real estate developers Cody Holmes and Steven Taylor have been accused of defrauding a program that funds affordable housing projects and are now facing decades in federal prison. Continue reading

Equifax cuts VantageScore 4.0 mortgage credit scores to $4.50

Once Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are ready to start accepting VantageScore 4.0, the algorithm will go head-to-head with the less inclusive FICO Classic score. Continue reading

Feds charge Trump nemesis Letitia James with bank fraud

James calls allegations over $109,600 mortgage baseless retribution, and a “continuation of the president’s desperate weaponization of our justice system.” Continue reading

Fannie, Freddie close NY offices as Trump battles Letitia James

The Trump administration is using its tight control over the mortgage giants to continue a vendetta against New York attorney general and other political opponents, critics say. Continue reading

Credit bureaus slam plan to cut them out of FICO score pricing

Lending industry groups and FHFA director Bill Pulte welcomed Fair Isaac’s new direct license pricing as a useful first step, but said more reforms and competition are needed. Continue reading

Supreme Court not ready to let Trump boot Fed Governor Lisa Cook

The legal battle over the Fed’s independence will drag into next year, with the Supreme Court to hear oral arguments in January on the Trump administration’s bid to fire Cook. Continue reading

Rocket Companies closes Mr. Cooper acquisition

Rocket Companies has closed its acquisition of Mr. Cooper for $14.2 billion, according to an announcement on Wednesday morning. The final acquisition price is 51 percent higher than the $9.4 billion price tag announced in March, due to Mr. Cooper’s rec… Continue reading

Democrats seek transparency into Fannie, Freddie ‘reprivatization’

The Trump administration has assured industry groups that a stable housing finance system and low mortgage rates are a “North Star” in plans for a secondary offering, but Dems complain they’ve been shut out of process. Continue reading