The Treasury Secretary blamed the Federal Reserve for the current housing recession and said that if the central bank cut interest rates more quickly, the recession could end. Continue reading
If the government keeps tight control over the mortgage giants and provides an “implicit guarantee” of their debt, rates might rise by 1/5 of a percentage point, Stanford researchers conclude. Continue reading
Investors who fund most home loans are no longer wondering whether the Federal Reserve will cut rates this month, but by how much. At least three quarter-percentage point rate cuts are now expected this year. Continue reading
Survey shows most Americans are also concerned that privatizing the mortgage giants might lead to higher mortgage rates, although Democrats and independents are more likely to be worried than Republicans. Continue reading
Impact on rates depends on the structure of rumored IPO. Whatever the plan turns out to be, the Trump administration has stacked the boards at the mortgage giants with its supporters. Continue reading
Tariff uncertainties and job loss worries meant lower rates had a bigger impact last week on refinancing demand than homebuying, MBA lender surveys show. Continue reading
Economists at Fannie Mae and the Mortgage Bankers Association differ on how much room mortgage rates have to come down and how fast home price appreciation will cool. Continue reading
Elevated mortgage rates, weakening home price growth and uncertainty from Trump’s tariff policy are setting the housing market on a dangerous path, Moody’s Mark Zandi said, with homebuyers and homebuilder hitting rock bottom. Continue reading
Lawmakers want assurances that privatizing the mortgage giants or taking them public won’t drive mortgage rates up, and put investor profits “over the homes of millions of Americans.” Continue reading
Shares in mortgage giants tumble as investors weigh whether the Trump administration is more interested in mining Fannie and Freddie’s profits than privatizing them. Continue reading