The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is urging a major overhaul of how lenders access credit data for loans delivered to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, calling their tri-merge mandate—requiring credit reports from all three major credit bureaus—"an outdated relic" that drives up costs and limits choice.
Mortgage rates held steady on August 12, 2025, providing a brief moment of calm for borrowers and lenders after a string of economic data releases. According to the Mortgage News Daily index, the average 30-year fixed mortgage rate remains at 6.58%, unchanged from the previous day and comfortably within its recent range.
The Trump administration is reportedly exploring an initial public offering (IPO) for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac by the end of 2025—a move that could generate up to $30 billion by selling between 5% and 15% of shares to public investors. If executed, the offering would be among the largest IPOs in history and signal a major shift in U.S. housing finance policy.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) has launched a proposal to repeal its 2024 Fair Lending, Fair Housing, and Equitable Housing Finance Plans rule, citing redundancy with existing regulations and seeking to ease administrative burdens on Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks. The move marks a significant shift in housing policy less than two years after the rule was finalized.
A new debate is emerging in Washington as lawmakers push back against a controversial move by Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte, who has instructed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to explore the use of cryptocurrency in mortgage underwriting. The initiative would permit borrowers to include crypto assets held on U.S.-regulated exchanges in their financial reserves—even without converting them to dollars—raising alarms among Senate Democrats.
Yes, Super Storm Sandy or Hurricane Sandy struck the Northeastern United States on October 29, 2012 and there are still many problems resulting from the storm. The first problem is the federal agency, Federal Emergency Management Agency and their National Flood Insurance Program. Many policy holders had their engineers reports altered after the fact and their claims were denied or drastically reduced. This was exposed on several news shows. Now FEMA is reopening over $140,000 flood insurance claims. The head of FEMA resigned over this.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
In much of the United States there are ugly abandoned homes filled with tales of woe, and sometimes a lot of stench and garbage. The banks eventually take these properties over, but only after the foreclosure process runs its course.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
On April 30, 2015, HUD announced a delay in the implementation of the new Single Family Handbook (SFH) 4000.1. The original date was June 15, 2015 and now the new date is September 14, 2015.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
On Friday, April 24, 2015 HUD announced some significant changes to its Distressed Asset Stabilization Program (DASP). These changes were made in an effort to better serve homeowners looking to avoid foreclosure, loan servicers will now be required to delay foreclosure for a year and to evaluate all borrowers for the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) or a similar program.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
What are the different types of mortgage insurance? There are two types of mortgage insurance, Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) for conventional borrowers that put less than a 20% downpayment and the other program is FHA insurance regardless of the down payment and loan term.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
When underwriting mortgage applications the usual problem for many borrowers is inadequate funds to close. The other problem is inadequate funds after closing (reserves). FHA does not require a borrower to have any reserves after closing on one and two family homes with traditional credit.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
Revitalization Areas are HUD designated geographic areas authorized by Congress under provisions of the National Housing Act. Revitalization Areas are intended to promote “the revitalization, through expanded homeownership opportunities, of revitalization areas.”
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
Since the mortgage melt down the big push has been the Qualifying Mortgage (QM). Loans that fit the QM were most government mortgage programs (FHA, VA, and USDA) and most agency loans provided by Fannie Mae and by Freddie Mac.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
As Underwriters and other Mortgage Professionals, we must be able to provide a robust analyst of both individuals and companies to ascertain financial performance. There are several key aspects to review of each entity. First, the borrowers or companies financial management decisions must be critiqued.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
Potential home buyers and borrowers need not to avoid shopping around for the best mortgage deal and for the house that they want. Is it smart to have multiple lenders to run credit reports since each credit report will chip away their credit scores.
Opinion-Editorial (Op-Ed) Disclaimer For NAMP® Library Articles: The views and opinions expressed in the NAMP® Library articles are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect any official NAMP® policy or position. Examples of analysis performed within this article are only examples. They should not be utilized in real-world application as they are based only on very limited and dated open source information. Assumptions made within the analysis are not reflective of the position of NAMP®. Nothing contained in this article should be considered legal advice.
Written By: Bonnie Wildt
I have said it before and I will say it again and that is, do not believe everything you hear or read for that matter. In this particular instance I am referring to AUS Findings. I have had countless conversations with processors and loan officer who want to know why I am asking for documentation that the AUS findings have clearly stated wasn’t needed or worse, they can’t believe I am turning a loan down that has an Approve/Eligible. So here it is again and pay particular attention to the details because just because you have an Approve/Eligible or Accept doesn’t necessarily mean you have a done deal.