FHFA

Washington, DC - June 6, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have completed more than 1.6 million foreclosure prevention actions since the beginning of conservatorship in the fourth quarter of 2008, with more than half of these actions resulting in loan modifications. According to the FHFA’s First Quarter 2011 Foreclosure Prevention & Refinance Report, loan modifications declined for the third consecutive quarter but resulted in deeper payment reductions for more people.

Washington, DC - May 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency 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 ARM contracts, was 4.80 percent based on loans closed in April. This is a decrease of 0.04 percent from the previous month.

Washington, DC - April 26, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency 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 ARM contracts, was 4.84 percent based on loans closed in March. This is an increase of 0.05 percent from the previous month.

Washington, DC - March 29, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency 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 ARM contracts, was 4.79 percent based on loans closed in February. This is an increase of 0.08 percent from the previous month

Washington, DC - March 3, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The total number of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac completed foreclosure prevention actions in 2010 more than doubled from one year earlier, according to the FHFA’s Fourth Quarter 2010 Foreclosure Prevention & Refinance Report. Although loan modifications declined for the second consecutive quarter, refinancings through the Home

WASHINGTON, DC - February 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. house prices fell in the fourth quarter of 2010 according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s (FHFA) seasonally adjusted purchase-only house price index (HPI). The HPI, calculated using home sales price information from Fannie Mae- and Freddie Mac-acquired mortgages, was 0.8 percent lower on a seasonally adjusted basis in the fourth quarter than in the third quarter of 2010. The unadjusted national decline was 2.2 percent. Over the past year, seasonally adjusted prices fell 3.9 percent from the fourth quarter of 2009 to the fourth quarter of 2010

Washington, DC - February 24, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency 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 ARM contracts, was 4.71 percent based on loans closed in January. This is an increase of 0.13 percent from the previous month.

Washington, DC - February 15, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency on Jan. 18 announced a joint initiative to consider alternatives for a new mortgage servicing compensation structure. As part of that effort, FHFA has established a dedicated web link to post information, including background materials and issues for consideration

Washington, DC - February 1, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- FHFA Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco today announced the agency will consolidate its three office locations into one, moving from Northwest, Washington, D.C. to Constitution Center at 400 Seventh St., Southwest. FHFA anticipates the move beginning in November 2011

Washington, DC - January 27, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency 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 ARM contracts, was 4.58 percent based on loans closed in November. This is an increase of 0.16 percent from the previous month.

WASHINGTON, DC - January 25, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. house prices were unchanged on a seasonally adjusted basis from October to November, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s monthly House Price Index. The previously reported 0.7 percent increase in October was revised downward to a 0.2 percent increase. For the 12 months ending in November, U.S. prices fell 4.3 percent. The U.S. index is 14.9 percent below its April 2007 peak and roughly the same as the August 2004 index level.

Washington, DC - January 18, 2011 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to work on a joint initiative, in coordination with FHFA and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), to consider alternatives for future mortgage servicing structures and servicing compensation for their single-family mortgage loans.

Washington, DC - December 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency 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 ARM contracts, was 4.42 percent based on loans closed in November. This is a decrease of 0.07 percent from the previous month.

Washington, DC - December 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Refinancings through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) increased 26 percent in the third quarter of 2010. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loan modifications through the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) increased 16 percent in the quarter, although the overall volume of loan modifications and the pace of HAMP modifications declined from previous periods. The data were released in FHFA’s Third Quarter 2010 Foreclosure Prevention & Refinance Report, which includes data on all of the Enterprises’ foreclosure prevention efforts

Washington, DC - November 23, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency 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 ARM contracts, was 4.49 percent based on loans closed in October. This is a decrease of 0.06 percent from the previous month.

Washington, DC - November 19, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has announced that, under terms set forth in a recently-enacted Congressional continuing resolution (Public Law Number 111-242), the maximum conforming loan limits for mortgages originated in the first nine months of 2011 will remain unchanged from existing loan limits for 2010 originations. Those limits are generally $417,000 but can be as much as $729,750 in certain high cost areas in the contiguous United States. The maximum loan limits for counties across the United States can be found here (130 pages)

Washington, DC - October 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency 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 ARM contracts, was 4.55 percent based on loans closed in September. This is a decrease of 0.10 percent from the previous month.

WASHINGTON, DC - October 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- U.S. house prices rose 0.4 percent on a seasonally adjusted basis from July to August, according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s monthly House Price Index. The previously reported 0.5 percent decline in July was revised to a 0.7 percent decline. For the 12 months ending in August, U.S. prices fell 2.4 percent. The U.S. index is 13.6 percent below its April 2007 peak.

Washington, DC - October 21, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released projections of the financial performance of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) including potential draws under the Preferred Stock Purchase Agreements (PSPAs) with the U.S. Department of the Treasury. To date, the Enterprises have drawn $148 billion from the Treasury Department under the terms of the PSPAs. Under the three scenarios used in the projections, cumulative Enterprise draws range from $221 billion to $363 billion through 2013

Washington, DC - September 28, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency 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 ARM contracts, was 4.65 percent based on loans closed in August. This is a decrease of 0.13 percent from the previous month.

Washington, DC - September 13, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- In an effort to inform the current discussion on the future of the housing finance system, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released data on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) that compare the credit quality and performance of the loans they acquired relative to loans financed with private-label mortgage-backed securities.

Washington, DC - September 10, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- Loan modifications and refinancings by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were up in the second quarter as the volume of permanent modifications under the Administration’s Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) increased 65 percent while refinancings under the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) increased by 30 percent. The data were released in FHFA’s Second Quarter 2010 Foreclosure Prevention & Refinance Report, which includes data on all of the Enterprises’ foreclosure prevention efforts.

Washington, DC - September 6, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has sent a final rule to the Federal Register establishing new housing goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) for 2010-2011. The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA) required FHFA to establish housing goals for the Enterprises for targeted segments of the mortgage market.

Washington, DC - August 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its first Conservator’s Report on the Enterprises’ Financial Condition. The Conservator’s Report provides an overview of key aspects of the financial condition of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) during conservatorship. The report will be released on a quarterly basis following the filing of the Enterprises’ financial results with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Washington, DC - August 26, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency 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 ARM contracts, was 4.78 percent based on loans closed in July. This is a decrease of 0.13 percent from the previous month. This Contract Rate series can be found at http://www.fhfa.gov/Default.aspx?Page=251.

Washington, DC - August 12, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency is proposing a guidance for public comment that would restrict Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks from investing in mortgages with private transfer fee covenants. The guidance would extend to mortgages and securities purchased by the Federal Home Loan Banks or acquired as collateral for advances, and to mortgages and securities purchased or guaranteed by the Enterprises.

Washington, DC - August 5, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today sent a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to the Federal Register on Rules of Practice and Procedure. The proposed rule would consolidate in FHFA the civil enforcement authorities of the Office of Federal Housing Enterprise Oversight (OFHEO), former safety and soundness regulator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the Federal Housing Finance Board (FHFB), former regulator of the Federal Home Loan Banks

Washington, DC - July 27, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency 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 ARM contracts, was 4.91 percent based on loans closed in June. This is a decrease of 0.08 percent from the previous month

Washington, DC - July 9, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has found that the average total “g-fee” charged by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on single-family mortgages fell in 2009 relative to 2008, from 25 basis points to 22 basis points. The second annual report on Enterprise guarantee fees, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Single-Family Guarantee Fees in 2008 and 2009, concludes that the decline in the total guarantee fees charged by each Enterprise in 2009 resulted from significant improvement in the credit profile of the single-family mortgages they acquired relative to 2008

Washington, DC - July 7, 2010 - (RealEstateRama) -- The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has sent to the Federal Register a proposed rule to codify the terms of conservatorship and receivership operations for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the Federal Home Loan Banks, pursuant to the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (HERA). The proposed rule parallels many of the provisions in the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) rules for conservatorships and receiverships. Among the key issues addressed in the proposed rule are: the status and priority of claims, the relationships among various classes of creditors and equity-holders and the priorities for contract parties and other claimants under conservatorships or receiverships