Fannie Mae announced operational changes that will pave the way for lenders to opt for use of advanced credit scoring models later this year. This shift potentially allows them to reach and approve an expanded group of borrowers through the use of trended repayment data. The government-sponsored enterprise is preparing its web-based PoolTalk technology and […]
Fannie Mae updating disclosures to pave way for VantageScore Read More »
Affordable housing groups weighing on behalf of underserved communities are advocating for a cautious approach to the government-sponsored enterprise reform the Trump administration is pursuing. “Any changes to the enterprises cannot raise costs on renters and homeowners,” the Underserved Mortgage Markets Coalition said in laying out one of its priorities for reform as administration officials
What underserved market supporters want to see in GSE reform Read More »
Home lenders were already pricing in a 25 basis-point Federal Open Market Committee cut as a key monetary meeting got underway Tuesday, suggesting that it’ll take an outcome beyond that for them to move lower. “If they cut 25 basis points and the narrative is neutral, and reasonable people can disagree or debate what neutral
Why mortgage lenders haven’t waited for the Fed to cut rates Read More »
While it is increasingly likely the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac conservatorships are nearing some sort of end, the question is whether their conforming product boxes will be expanded as a result. The demand for products that address unique borrower needs isn’t going away anytime soon. In recent weeks, lenders have introduced a wide range
From crypto to DPA: 8 newest mortgage products, programs Read More »
Two large government-related investors saw their annual nonperforming-loan sales reverse course and resume an upward trend for the first time since 2021, adding to signs that more distressed mortgages are slowly making their way to market as pandemic restrictions get lifted. The number of NPLs Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac sold in 2024 rose to
Enterprises’ NPL sales reduce bad assets to a 9-year low Read More »
The Mortgage Bankers Association’s chief issued a reminder of why it has opposed merging two influential government-sponsored loan buyers as federal officials signaled momentum in pursuing a public offering. “Creating a government-conferred monopoly would diminish innovation, degrade service to market participants and heighten systemic risk,” MBA President and CEO Bob Broeksmit said in a blog
Why MBA is renewing opposition to a Fannie-Freddie merger Read More »
Mortgage correspondent lender LitFinancial has launched a stablecoin on an Ethereum blockchain with the initial aim of improving its treasury efficiency and reducing its cost of capital. Lit, based in Troy Michigan, is working with Brale, a stablecoin-as-a-service platform, and Stably, a stablecoin advisory firm, on the new token which is named litUSD. Brale is
LitFinancial turns to crypto for mortgage funding Read More »
Tenant interest in rent reporting has grown since the Federal Housing Finance Agency reaffirmed plans to include those payments in mortgage credit decisions. Instances of self-reported rent are up so far in 2025, at 13% compared to 11% in 2024, according to credit bureau TransUnion. That could help increase the use of a credit score
Tenant self-reporting grows as GSEs add rent-based score Read More »
Recent mortgage fraud discussions have been centered on high-profile occupancy misrepresentation cases, but the bigger question is how these claims can be proven and what level of risk they pose to the industry. For one, the allegations to date, such as a Trump administration criminal referral that a Federal Reserve Board member is fighting, typically
Occupancy fraud scrutiny raises questions for lenders Read More »
Enjoy complimentary access to top ideas and insights — selected by our editors. In July 2025, a pivotal change came to the mortgage industry, when the Federal Housing Finance Agency officially approved the use of VantageScore 4.0 as an alternative to Classic FICO for mortgages purchased by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. VantageScore claims that Classic FICO is
FICO isn’t the problem. A premature two-score system Is Read More »