FHFA

FHFA: Index Shows Mortgage Rates Decreased in January 2019

Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages decreased from December to January, according to several indices of new mortgage contracts. The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders Index was 4.60 percent for loans closed in late January, down 23 basis points from 4.83 percent in December. The average interest…

FHFA: Final Rule Issued on Uniform Mortgage-Backed Security

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has issued a final rule that requires Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) to align programs, policies, and practices that affect the cash flows of “To-Be-Announced” (TBA)-eligible Mortgage-Backed Securities (MBS).  The issuance of the final rule is a major step forward, significantly improving the predictability of cash flows…

FHFA: U.S. House Prices Rise 1.1 Percent in Fourth Quarter 2018

U.S. house prices rose 1.1 percent in the fourth quarter of 2018 according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI).  House prices rose 5.7 percent from the fourth quarter of 2017 to the fourth quarter of 2018.  FHFA’s seasonally adjusted monthly index for December was up 0.3 percent from November. The…

FHFA: Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Refinance Volume Decreases in Fourth Quarter 2018

Nearly 3.5 Million HARP Loans at Program Expiration The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac completed 245,620 refinances in the fourth quarter of 2018, compared with 253,135 in the third quarter. FHFA’s fourth quarter Refinance Report  also shows that 1,390 loans were refinanced through the Home Affordable Refinance Program…

FHFA: Indices Show Little Movement in Mortgage Interest Rates in December 2018

Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages were nearly flat from November to December, according to several indices of new mortgage contracts. The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders Index was 4.83 percent for loans closed in late December, down 3 basis points from 4.86 percent…

FHFA: House Price Index Up 0.4 Percent in November 2018

U.S. house prices rose in November, up 0.4 percent from the previous month, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) seasonally adjusted monthly House Price Index (HPI).  The previously reported 0.3 percent increase in October was revised to reflect a 0.4 percent increase. The FHFA monthly HPI is calculated using home sales price information…

FHFA: Index Shows Mortgage Rates Increased in November 2018

Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages increased from October to November, according to several indices of new mortgage contracts. The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders Index was 4.86 percent for loans closed in late November, up 11 basis points from 4.75 percent in October….

FHFA: House Price Index Up 0.3 Percent in October 2018

Many people make it their New Year’s resolution to get a handle on debt and improve their finances. Here are six steps you can take to make that resolution a reality. U.S. house prices rose in October, up 0.3 percent from the previous month, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) seasonally adjusted monthly…

OCC: President Trump Names Joseph M. Otting Acting Director of Federal Housing Finance Agency

Comptroller of the Currency Joseph M. Otting today issued the following statement after President Donald J. Trump designated him to become Acting Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) upon completion of current Director Mel Watt’s term on January 6. I am honored that President Trump has named me Acting Director of the Federal…

FHFA: Foreclosure Preventions Surpass 4.2 Million in Third Quarter 2018

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its third quarter 2018 Foreclosure Prevention Report,which shows that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) completed 63,193 foreclosure prevention actions in the third quarter of 2018, bringing the total number of foreclosure prevention actions to 4,242,774 since September 2008.  The report also shows that nearly 25…