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Freddie Mac releases various selling updates in Guide Bulletin 2018-15
On September 19, Freddie Mac released Guide Bulletin 2018-15, which announces selling updates, including revisions to requirements for authorized user accounts and super conforming mortgages. Specifically, when reviewing a borrower’s credit report for tradelines where a borrower is listed as an authorized user but is not the primary account holder, sellers only have to meet additional documentation requirements if they receive a feedback message containing further instructions. These changes are effective for submissions and resubmissions made on or after October 4. The Bulletin also states that effective for mortgages settled on or after December 19, Freddie Mac will no longer require the manual underwriting of super conforming mortgages with original loan amounts greater than $1 million.
Additionally, starting October 15, enhancements to the automated cash specified payups process will take effect, which will, among other things, “include cash payups for fixed-rate [m]ortgages with certain specified loan attributes.” The Bulletin also eliminates the requirement for sellers to obtain additional documentation or evaluate the income or loss from secondary self-employment when none of this income is used for mortgage qualification purposes. Furthermore, as of September 9, as previously covered in InfoBytes, Bulletin 2018-13 updated the required time frame for evaluating credit report inquiries; it has been reduced from 120 days to 90 days.
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac update servicing guides
On September 18, Fannie Mae issued SVC-2018-06, which updates the Servicing Guide to include, among other things, changes to reduce servicer costs and risks and simplify certain loan modification options. Updates include: (i) relieving servicers of the responsibility for paying property taxes and ground rents on acquired properties, effective October 1, and co-op fees on properties acquired on or after October 1; (ii) effective immediately, removing the requirement for servicers to receive Fannie Mae approval when modifying a Texas Constitution Section 50(a)(6) loan under the Cap and Extend Modification for Disaster Relief policy (does not apply to reverse mortgages); (iii) clarifying servicing and subservicing transfer requirements, effectively immediately (iv) revising evaluation notices and solicitation letters, in alignment with Freddie Mac (described below), that take effect immediately but must be implemented by January 1, 2019; (v) adjusting maximum allowable foreclosure attorney fees for certain loans secured by properties in New Mexico and Hawaii for matters active as of September 18; and (vi) consolidating and aligning policies related to project liability and fidelity insurance to be implemented no later than January 1, 2019.
On the same day, Freddie Mac released Guide Bulletin 2018-14 announcing, among other things, servicing updates concerning (i) revised borrower evaluation notices and solicitation letters that take effect immediately but must be implemented by January 1, 2019; (ii) a new temporary servicer reimbursement process effective for property inspections related to insurance loss settlements conducted on or after September 1; (iii) changes to the Servicer Success Scorecard, effective July 1, 2019; and (iv) reporting requirements for third-party foreclosure sale redemptions, effective December 1.
Freddie Mac releases Guide Bulletin with various selling updates
On August 29, Freddie Mac released Guide Bulletin 2018-13, which announces selling updates, including the consolidation of Freddie Mac’s “Home Possible” and “Home Possible Advantage” mortgage programs into a single offering. The Bulletin compares the previous requirements of both programs with the new requirements of the consolidated program, which now allows non-occupant borrowers to be eligible for the program with a loan-to-value ratio less than or equal to 95%. The changes to the revised “Home Possible” mortgage program are effective October 29.
The Bulletin also updates several mortgage eligibility and credit underwriting requirements, including (i) student loan debt payment calculations; (ii) cash back requirements for “no cash-out” refinance mortgages; and (iii) timelines for evaluating credit report inquiries. Additionally, the Bulletin provides an update to the requirements for property, flood, liability and fidelity or employee dishonesty insurance for condominium projects.
8th Circuit rules Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac net worth sweep payments acceptable under FHFA statutory authority
On August 23, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 8th Circuit affirmed a lower court’s dismissal of claims brought by shareholders of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs) against the GSEs’ conservator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), alleging that FHFA exceeded its powers under the Housing and Economic Recovery Act (HERA) and “acted arbitrarily and capriciously” when it entered an agreement with the Treasury Department requiring the GSEs to pay their entire net worth, minus a small buffer, as dividends to the Treasury every quarter. In so holding, the 8th Circuit joined the 5th, 6th, 7th, and D.C. Circuits, each of which has previously “rejected materially identical arguments” presented by other GSE shareholders. (See previous InfoBytes coverage on the 5th Circuit decision here.) The shareholders sought an injunction to set aside the so-called “net worth sweep,” asserting that “HERA’s limitation on judicial review does not apply when FHFA exceeds its statutory powers under the Act . . . [and] that the net worth sweep exceeds, and is antithetical to, FHFA’s statutory powers.” However, the appellate court agreed with the lower court and found, among other things, the net worth sweep payments to be acceptable because HERA “grant[s] FHFA broad discretion in its management and operation of Fannie and Freddie” and permits, but does not require, the agency “to preserve and conserve Fannie’s and Freddie’s assets and to return [them] to private operation.” The court also noted that HERA “authorize[d] FHFA to act ‘in the best interests’ of either Fannie and Freddie or itself,” thus affording FHFA more discretion than common law conservators. Finally, the appellate court held that HERA’s anti-injunction provision, which states that “no court may take any action to restrain or affect the exercise of powers or functions of the [FHFA] as a conservator or a receiver,” also precludes enjoining the Treasury Department from participating in the net worth sweep because doing so would “restrain or affect” FHFA.
FHFA reports results of Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac annual stress tests
On August 7, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) published a report providing the results of the fifth annual stress tests conducted by government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (GSEs). According to the report, Dodd-Frank Act Stress Tests Results – Severely Adverse Scenario—which provides modeled projections on possible ranges of future financial results and does not define the entirety of possible outcomes—the GSEs will need to draw between $42.1 billion and $77.6 billion in incremental Treasury aid under a “severely adverse” economic crisis, depending on how deferred tax assets are treated. The losses would leave $176.5 billion to $212 billion available to the companies under their current funding commitment agreements. Notably, the projected bailout maximum is lower this year than FHFA reported last year, which ranged between $34.8 billion and $99.6 billion.
FHFA extends comment deadline for proposed rule on capital requirements for Freddie and Fannie
On July 31, the Federal Housing Finance Agency announced a 60-day extension on the public comment period for a proposed rule that would implement a new regulatory capital framework for Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae. Among other things, the proposed rule would implement: (i) a new framework for risk-based capital requirements; and (ii) two alternative approaches to setting minimum leverage capital requirements. (Previously covered by InfoBytes here). The previous deadline for comments was September 17, and the deadline is now November 16.
FHFA pauses credit score initiative, will use formal rulemaking to create new credit score model
On July 23, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that it will not decide this year whether to update the credit score model used by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises), as previously announced. Instead, FHFA will focus on implementing Section 310: Credit Score Competition, of the Economic Growth, Regulatory Relief, and Consumer Protection Act (Public Law 115-174) (the Act). Section 310 requires FHFA to establish, through the rulemaking process, standards and criteria to govern the verification and validation of credit score models used by the Enterprises. According to the press release, prior to Section 310 becoming law, FHFA and the Enterprises had been engaged in an ongoing initiative to evaluate a new credit score model’s potential impact on “access to credit, safety and soundness, operations in the mortgage finance industry, and competition in the credit score market.” However, after Section 310 was enacted in May, FHFA “determined that proceeding with efforts to reach a decision based on our [initiative] and timetable would be duplicative of, and in some respects inconsistent with, the work we are mandated to do under Section 310 of the Act. In light of that, we are communicating to Congress that we are transferring our full efforts to working with the Enterprises to implement the steps required under Section 310.” FHFA will release a proposed rule open for public comment in the future to govern the verification of credit score models.
Freddie Mac updates Selling Guide on lender credit requirements
On July 25, Freddie Mac released Guide Bulletin 2018-12 (Bulletin), which, among other things, updates lender credit requirements to permit sellers to apply excess lender credit as a principal curtailment toward the mortgage when the amount exceeds the borrower’s closing costs. Effective immediately, Freddie Mac stated that this change to the Selling Guide also will include “situations where regulatory requirements do not permit reduction of the amount of the lender credit without re-disclosure to the [b]orrower, which may delay closing.”
Separately, the Bulletin also announces streamlined polices to Freddie Mac’s leasehold estate requirements. The updates are intended to make it simpler for sellers to determine eligibility for leasehold mortgages, and the changes include the elimination and simplification of certain requirements. Additionally, the Bulletin discusses changes to delivery instructions applicable to automated collateral evaluation appraisal waivers and homeownership education delivery instructions, and provides guidance concerning when contingent liability and assigned debt may be excluded from a borrower’s monthly debt payment-to-income ratio.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issue disaster relief policy reminders and updates
On July 18, Fannie Mae, in Lender Letter LL-2018-04, and Freddie Mac, in an industry letter released the same day, reminded servicers of requirements that continue to be in effect for servicing mortgages impacted by eligible disasters. Specifically, Fannie Mae provides information on (i) reimbursements related to insured loss repair inspection costs; (ii) disaster-impacted inspections; (iii) the Extend Modification for Disaster Relief policy—developed in conjunction with Freddie Mac for post-disaster forbearance mortgage loan modifications; and (iv) the disbursement of hazard loss draft proceeds. Freddie Mac also reminds servicers of property inspection reimbursement requirements and changes to insurance loss settlement distributions.
Find continuing InfoBytes coverage on disaster relief here.
5th Circuit rules FHFA structure violates Constitution’s separation of powers
On July 16, in a divided opinion, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit affirmed in part and reversed in part a lower court’s decision that addressed two claims brought by a group of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (government-sponsored entities or GSEs) shareholders: (i) whether the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) acted within its statutory authority when it adopted a dividend agreement, which requires the GSEs to turn over every quarter “dividends equal to their entire net worth” to the Treasury Department; and (ii) whether the structure of the FHFA is unconstitutional and in violation of the separation of powers. The lower court previously dismissed the shareholder’s statutory claims and granted summary judgment in favor of the Treasury Department and the FHFA on the constitutional claim. In addressing the first claim, the appellate court agreed with the lower court and found the government-sponsored entities’ payments acceptable under the agency’s statutory authority and that the FHFA was lawfully established by Congress through the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008, which places restrains on judicial review. However, the appellate court reversed the lower court’s decision as to the second claim and agreed with shareholders that Congress went too far in insulating the FHFA’s single director from removal by the president for anything other than cause, ruling that the agency’s structure violates Article II of the Constitution. “We hold that Congress insulated the FHFA to the point where the Executive Branch cannot control the FHFA or hold it accountable,” the opinion stated. The divided appellate panel remanded to the lower court for further proceedings.
Earlier this year, in response to a challenge to the CFPB's single-director structure, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit en banc upheld the CFPB’s constitutionality in a 7-3 decision (see Buckley Sandler Special Alert). The 5th Circuit is also scheduled to hear a challenge by two Mississippi-based payday loan and check cashing companies to the constitutionality of the CFPB’s single-director structure, in which 14 state Attorney General filed an amici curiae brief encouraging the appellate court to disagree with the en banc decision of the D.C. Circuit. (See previous InfoBytes coverage here and here.)