News for Freddie Mac (FMCKL)

Time flies. We’re at “pi day” (3.14), two weeks until the end of the quarter, one month before our taxes are due. Tax returns for individuals are private (I think) but those filed by nonprofit organizations are public records. The Mortgage Bankers Association of America taxes, for example, are here. Speaking of which, our MBA has a lot on its plate. Setting up relationships with Scott Turner (HUD) and Bill Pulte (confirmed for FHFA this week) is important since having a say in ending the conservatorship of the GSEs (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac) matters greatly. (Would they still be government sponsored?) “16 years of hands-on conservatorship by FHFA has created inefficiencies, blunted some of their competitiveness, and led to challenges in retaining and attracting the best talent in the housing finance space.” The MBA has identified four over-arching principles it believes should frame the release of Fannie and Freddie: an explicit backstop via a federal guarantee, the two maintaining a level playing field for lenders of all shapes and sizes, a “Bright Line” between primary and secondary mortgage functions that must be clearly defined and rigorously enforced by FHFA to ensure a stable and competitive market, and, lastly, FHFA regulatory enhancements to regulate the GSEs’ rate of return and market conduct. Go MBA! (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by TransUnion. TransUnion offers thousands of B2B solutions designed to address the unique needs of mortgage lenders, especially for their identity-focused, data-driven mortgage insights and solutions. Hear an Interview with Milo’s Josip Rupena on the latest happenings at the intersection of crypto and mortgage lending.)

**media[566668]**

PR NewswireBETHESDA, Md., March 13, 2025 BETHESDA, Md., March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AGNC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC) announced today that its Board

PR NewswireBETHESDA, Md., March 13, 2025 BETHESDA, Md., March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- AGNC Investment Corp. (Nasdaq: AGNC) ("AGNC" or the "Company") annou

UNIONDALE, N.Y., March 13, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Arbor Realty Trust, Inc. (: ABR), today announced the closing of a $1.15 billion repurchase facility (the

FHFA's new director passed through the Senate's vote after he previously voiced support for easing of government regulations during confirmation hearings.

**media[566095]**

Flying high: Several top airlines have adjusted their forecasts over fears that an incoming recession could weaken travel demand after a sluggish start to the year. Executives from Delta Air Lines, American Airlines and other major carriers warned that demand from consumers, businesses and government customers has come under pressure in the first quarter. The […]

Mortgage rates ticked higher after falling for seven straight weeks, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.65%.

**media[565949,565950]**

“Buying eggs on the street and weed in the stores: the times they are changing.” Borrowers are certainly reacting to changes in rates as capital markets staffs are dusting off their renegotiation policies, explain early payoff penalties, and strategize on margins in volatile times (all of which are discussed in today’s Capital Markets Wrap at 3PM ET, presented by Polly). Of course, the stock market isn’t the economy, which is a good thing because, as of Friday, Barron’s calculated a $3 trillion reduction in the value of U.S. stocks since Trump’s Jan. 20 inauguration. Originators hope that their clients aren’t tying their down payment funds to anything stock market-related, and worry that the mood of potential clients will deteriorate if the stock market keeps falling, which in turn would impact their enthusiasm for buying a home. (More in capital markets section.) Despite Fed Chair Powell’s comments, rate cut expectations have been pushed forward in recent weeks. As deterioration in the labor market builds, coupled with downside growth risks stemming from tariff and fiscal policies, markets are pricing in nearly three rate cuts this year, which is a significant increase from just one expected cut at this time last month. (Today’s podcast can be found here and this week’s is sponsored by TransUnion. TransUnion offers thousands of B2B solutions designed to address the unique needs of mortgage lenders, especially for their identity-focused, data-driven mortgage insights and solutions. Hear an interview with Mesa’s Maya Velasquez on how young people see the future of mortgage.)

Franklin BSP Realty Trust, Inc. (NYSE: FBRT) (”œFBRT” or the ”œCompany”), a leading real estate investment trust, today announced that it has entered int

FICO CEO William Lansing has burnished the credit score’s dominance and pushed through price hikes, making a bundle for long-term shareholders and himself an almost-billionaire.

Far too often, pundits will appear on TV or get quoted in a news article casually saying that "uncertainty is elevated" — when in fact uncertainty may be at normal levels. Because there is always uncertainty, and any implication that there can be periods with no uncertainty is ridiculous.

Recent housing data has pointed to a slow start to 2025, but recent improvements in interest rates have some economists cautiously optimistic about the key spring sales season.

Summary Dream Finders Homes Inc (DFH) has announced the acquisition of Cherry Creek Mortgage, LLC through its subsidiary, Jet HomeLoans, LP. The acquisition, fi

Dream Finders Homes, Inc. (the ”œCompany”, ”œDream Finders Homes”, ”œDream Finders” or ”œDFH”) (NYSE: DFH) announced the acquisition of Cherry Cree

Mortgage rates fell for a seventh week in a row, mortgage buyer Freddie Mac said Thursday. The average rate on the 30-year fixed mortgage is 6.63%.

“If you boil a funny bone, it becomes a laughingstock. Now that's humerus.” What isn’t humer…, uh humorous, is a) most states losing an hour Sunday morning, and b) why rates are going down. The word “stagflation” is creeping into analyst’s missives. Mortgage rates and U.S. Treasury yields have fallen amid expectations of a trade-induced economic slowdown that could prompt the Federal Reserve to cut interest rates multiple times this year. Financial markets are pricing in the risk of recession, with various models like JPMorgan Chase's or Goldman Sachs’ showing a rise in the market-implied probability of an economic downturn doubling from earlier levels given tariff-related uncertainty and weaker economic indicators. Lower rates are nice, but the reasons aren’t. (Today’s podcast can be found here and sponsored by Floify. Floify is an easy-to-configure point-of-sale platform that allows each branch or loan officer to customize its look and feel to meet the needs of their lending team, homebuyers, and market. Hear an interview with LoneStar Signing's Jackie Spillman on breaking barriers for Women’s History Month.) Lender and Broker Products, Software, and Services Aven Broker Program: Earn 3% for brokering customers to Aven! Aven provides access to the lowest HELOC monthly payments, guaranteed. Plus, customers can get 2% unlimited cash back with the Aven Home Equity Visa® Credit Card giving them easy access to their funds. Aven is seeking licensed MLOs to join the Aven Broker Program. Aven's dedicated portal streamlines application and management, with approvals and closings handled entirely online in as little as 15 within minutes. Brokers earn a 3% fee on the loan value. If you’re interested in partnering with Aven to offer an accessible HELOC solution to your clients, please contact [email protected]. For more information on Aven, visit https://www.aven.com.