Fair Lending Shake-Ups: CFPB Vacates Townstone Settlement, FHFA Ends GSEs' Special Purpose Credit Programs — The Consumer Finance Podcast
Weekly Brief: BoA Sued; SCOTUS Shortlists; Fund Fights Argentina
Fannie Mae recently announced updates to its Multifamily Loan Documents with Lender Letter (25-04). Since that time, Fannie Mae released a revised Lender Letter (25-04R) that changed the mandatory date for use of the loan...more
On June 25, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) issued a directive ordering Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to prepare proposals for treating cryptocurrency held on U.S.-regulated exchanges as assets for reserves in...more
Fannie Mae published its Preferred Equity Guide Update (25-06) and its Preferred Equity Checklist (Form 6441) in mid-April. Although unpublished iterations have been circulating for the past two years, lenders and law firms...more
On April 15, ten U.S. Senators sent a letter addressed to Mr. Brian M. Tomney, Inspector General of the FHFA, requesting that the FHFA OIG review recent actions taken by FHFA leadership to overhaul the boards at Fannie Mae...more
April 17, 2025 - Federal Reserve Board Governor Michael S. Barr gave a speech entitled, “Deepfakes and the AI Arms Race in Bank Cybersecurity.” April 17, 2025- The Federal Reserve Bank of Boston published an article...more
April 15, 2025 - The Federal Reserve Board, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, National Credit Union Administration and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency temporarily paused certain appraisal requirements for...more
“Build-to-rent” means what it sounds like: A builder constructs single-family homes specifically designed for renters. Also known as “build-for-rent,” these communities began in Phoenix during the Great Recession and have...more
In a significant policy shift under the Trump administration, the new Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte issued an order on March 25, 2025 terminating special purpose credit programs (SPCPs) supported...more
In the wake of the tragic condominium building collapse in Surfside, Florida, Fannie Mae issued new temporary eligibility guidelines for loans insured by Fannie Mae for condominium units or co-op apartments which are...more
In This Issue. In a move that gives him the opportunity to put his stamp on housing policy and the potential overhaul of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, President Biden replaced the Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency...more
In the News. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) issued a long-awaited rule seeking comment on its proposed approach to determine the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) evaluation measure benchmarks, retail...more
In the News. On the heels of a lawsuit challenging the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s (OCC) recently issued Madden fix/valid when made rule, eight state attorneys general filed suit challenging a similar rule...more
On July 9, 2020, Fannie Mae in updates to Lender Letters 2020-03 and 2020-04 and Freddie Mac in Bulletin 2020-27 announced the further extension of origination guidance based on COVID-19 (the Freddie Mac action extends the...more
On May 28, 2020, Fannie Mae in updates to Lender Letter 2020-03 and Lender Letter 2020-04 and Freddie Mac in Bulletin 2020-19 updated their temporary origination requirements based on COVID-19....more
In this Issue: Senate Votes to Expand Paycheck Protection Program; FHFA (Finally) Addresses Liquidity Concerns for Mortgage Servicers. Yesterday, the U.S. Senate unanimously passed legislation providing $484 billion in...more
On March 25, 2020, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac updated their servicing requirements and relief related to the COVID-19 crisis. Fannie Mae updated Lender Letter 2020-02, and Freddie Mac issued Bulletin 2020-7....more
In response to COVID-19 developments, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have issued guidance regarding verifications of employment (VOEs), income continuity, appraisals, title policies, and other matters. The Fannie Mae guidance is...more
This week’s Short-Term Rental Update features a number of interesting topics, including these highlights...more