FHFA
Maximum Conforming Loan Limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to Remain Unchanged in...
Washington, DC - November 29, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that the maximum conforming loan limits for mortgages acquired by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2013 will remain at existing levels. In most of the country, the loan limit will be $417,000 for one-unit properties. The loan limits are established under the terms of the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA), and are calculated each year.
U.S. House Prices Rose 1.1 Percent in Third Quarter 2012
Washington, DC - November 29, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. house prices rose 1.1 percent from the second quarter to the third quarter of 2012 according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) seasonally adjusted purchase-only house price index (HPI). The HPI is calculated using home sales price information from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac mortgages. Seasonally adjusted house prices rose 4.0 percent from the third quarter of 2011 to the third quarter of 2012. FHFA’s seasonally adjusted monthly index for September was up 0.2 percent from August.
HARP Enhancements Continue to Bolster Program
Washington, D.C. - November 29, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its September Refinance Report, which shows that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans refinanced through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) accounted for nearly one-quarter of all refinances in the third quarter of 2012. More than 90,000 homeowners refinanced their mortgage in September through HARP with more than 709,000 loans refinanced since the beginning of this year. The continued high volume of HARP refinances is attributed to record-low mortgage rates and program enhancements announced last year.
Federal Housing Finance Agency Reports Mortgage Interest Rates
Washington, DC - November 29, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) contracts, was 3.44 percent based on loans closed in October. There was a decrease of 0.12 from the previous month. In March of 2012, FHFA began calculating interest rates using un-weighted survey data.
FHFA Statement on REO Pilot Transactions
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 2, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- "The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is encouraged by the results of Fannie Mae's first Real Estate Owned (REO) pilot transactions and remains committed to pursuing efforts that build upon the success of this initiative. This is in keeping with FHFA’s Strategic Plan for the Enterprise Conservatorships which called for implementation of the REO initiative and creative strategies for placing foreclosed homes back into the marketplace in order to reduce losses
FHFA and CFPB Partner on Development of National Mortgage Database
Initiative will help streamline disparate datasets and support regulators’ efforts to monitor the market
WASHINGTON, D.C. - November 2, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The...
Federal Housing Finance Agency Reports Mortgage Interest Rates
Washington, DC - October 30, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) contracts, was 3.56 percent based on loans closed in September. There was no change in percentage from the previous month. In March of 2012, FHFA began calculating interest rates using un-weighted survey data.
FHFA House Price Index Up 0.7 Percent in August
Washington, DC - October 24, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. house prices rose 0.7 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from July to August, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s monthly House Price Index (HPI). The previously reported 0.2 percent increase in July was revised downward to a 0.1 percent increase. For the 12 months ending in August, U.S. prices rose 4.7 percent. The U.S. index is 15.9 percent below its April 2007 peak and is roughly the same as the June 2004 index level.
HARP Loans Continue Strong Pace in August
Washington, D.C. - October 17, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its August Refinance Report, which shows that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans refinanced through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) accounted for nearly one-quarter of all refinances in August. Nearly 99,000 homeowners refinanced their mortgage in August through the HARP program with more than 618,000 loans refinanced since the beginning of this year.
FHFA Releases Strategic Plan for 2013-2017
Washington, DC - October 9, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco today released an updated strategic plan for FHFA for fiscal years 2013-2017 subtitled, “Preparing a Foundation for a More Efficient and Effective Housing Finance System.”
FHFA Seeks Public Input on Building a New Infrastructure for the Secondary Mortgage Market
Washington, DC - October 8, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released for public input a white paper on...
FHFA Announces Winning Investor in Chicago REO Pilot Initiative
Washington, DC - October 3, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that The Cogsville Group, LLC has purchased 94 Fannie Mae properties in Chicago as part of a real estate owned (REO) pilot initiative. All properties were sold near or above market value.
Federal Housing Finance Agency Reports Mortgage Interest Rates
Washington, DC - September 27, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) contracts, was 3.56 percent based on loans closed in August. There was a decrease of 0.10 percent from the previous month. In March of 2012, FHFA began calculating interest rates using un-weighted survey data.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Help More Than 2.4 Million with Foreclosure Prevention Actions;
Washington, DC - September 26, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac completed more than 129,000 foreclosure prevention actions in the second quarter of 2012, bringing the total foreclosure prevention actions to 2.4 million since the start of conservatorship in 2008 with 1.2 million of those actions being permanent loan modifications. These actions, which have helped more than 2 million borrowers stay in their homes, are detailed in the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s second quarter 2012 Foreclosure Prevention Report, also known as the Federal Property Manager’s Report.
FHFA Announces Increase in Guarantee Fees
Washington, DC - August 31, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that it has directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to raise guarantee fees (g-fees) on singlefamily mortgages by an average of 10 basis points. The changes to g-fee pricing represent a step toward encouraging greater participation in the mortgage market by private firms, a goal set forth in FHFA’s Strategic Plan for Enterprise Conservatorships.
FHFA Announces New Standard Short Sale Guidelines for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac;
Washington, DC - August 28, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are issuing new, clear guidelines to their mortgage servicers that will align and consolidate existing short sales programs into one standard short sale program.
Agencies Issue Proposed Rule on Appraisals for Higher-Risk Mortgages
WASHINGTON, DC - August 15, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- Six federal financial regulatory agencies today issued a proposed rule to establish new appraisal requirements for “higher-risk mortgage loans.” The proposed rule would implement amendments to the Truth in Lending Act enacted by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act of 2010. Under the Dodd-Frank Act, mortgage loans are higher-risk if they are secured by a consumer’s home and have interest rates above a certain threshold
FHFA Sends Notice to Federal Register on Use of Eminent Domain to Restructure Performing...
Washington, DC - August 8, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has sent to the Federal Register a Notice indicating its concern with the proposed use of eminent domain to restructure performing home loans and inviting public input.
HARP Refinances Continue Surge in First Half of 2012
Washington, D.C. - August 7, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its June Refinance Report, which shows that one of every three refinances through Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were made through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), the highest number since the inception of the program in April 2009. The continued increase in HARP volume is attributed to record-low mortgage rates and program enhancements announced last fall including removal of the loan-to-value (LTV) ceiling for borrowers who refinance into fixedrate loans and the elimination or lowering of fees for certain borrowers
Federal Housing Finance Agency Reports Mortgage Interest Rates
Washington, DC - July 26, 2012 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that the National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders, used as an index in some adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) contracts, was 3.67 percent based on loans closed in June. Beginning in March, FHFA is calculating interest rates using unweighted survey data. There was a decrease of 0.11 percent from the previous month. The complete contract rate series can be found at http://www.fhfa.gov/Default.aspx?Page=251.
