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Bipartisan Group of Senators Propose Housing Finance Reform Bill
On June 25, Senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Bob Corker (R-TN) announced the introduction of a new bill to reform the secondary mortgage market. The bill, known as the Housing Finance Reform and Taxpayer Protection Act, has bipartisan support from several other members of the Senate Banking Committee. The bill is designed to draw private capital back into the secondary mortgage market by providing a limited government guarantee to qualifying mortgage-backed securities (MBS). It would replace over a period of time Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and in their stead establish the Federal Mortgage Insurance Corporation (FMIC), which would oversee a variety of secondary market utility functions, many of which are similar to those under development by the FHFA. Under the new system, the FMIC would insure MBS securitized by FMIC-approved issuers, provided that the MBS place in the first loss position a private investor with at least 10 cents in equity capital for every dollar of risk. FMIC-insured MBS also would be required to be collateralized by “eligible mortgages” – mortgages that, among other things, meet the CFPB’s ability to pay requirements, have a down payment of at least five percent, and are below the conforming loan limit. The FMIC also would have responsibility for approving bond guarantors to provide credit enhancement, servicers eligible to service loans in MBS pools, and private mortgage insurance companies to insure mortgages with a loan-to-value ratio above 80 percent. The bill also would establish an affordable housing fund subsidized through fees on securitized loans and would grant the FMIC authority to back the entire MBS market for a limited period of time in emergencies.
Federal Agencies Announce Two-Year HAMP Extension
On May 30, the FHFA announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will extend the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) through December 31, 2015. Concurrently, the Treasury Department and HUD announced an extension of the HAMP deadline for non-Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans to harmonize with the FHFA extension. The programs were set to expire at the end of 2013. In addition, the FHFA extended from August 2015 through the end of 2015 its streamlined modification initiative.
FHFA Proposes Rule to Replace Federal Home Loan Banks' Use of Credit Ratings
On May 23, the FHFA proposed a rule to require the Federal Home Loan Banks (FHLBs) to base determinations about the appropriateness of specific investments or activities on their own internal documented analyses of credit and other risks. Currently the FHLBs use credit ratings provided by certain national credit rating organizations. Dodd-Frank Act section 939A requires the FHFA and other federal regulators to review regulations that require use of such credit rating firms. The FHFA proposal seeks comment on alternative analyses for use by the FHLBs in assessing investments, standby letters of credit, and liabilities. Comments on the proposal are due by July 22, 2013.
Sixth Circuit Holds Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Exempt from Local Taxes
On May 20, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit overturned a district court decision and held that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are exempt from state and local real estate transfer taxes. Oakland v. Fed. Hous. Fin. Agency, No.12-2135/2136, 2013 WL 2149964 (6th Cir. May 20, 2013). In this case, as in other similar cases pending around the country, Michigan counties and the state of Michigan sued to recover state and local real estate transfer taxes from Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHFA for property transfers made by those entities. The appeals court held that Congress expressly exempted Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from “all taxation,” including all state and local taxation, when it chartered those institutions and that it applied the same exemption to the FHFA as conservator in the 2008 Housing and Economic Recovery Act. The court rejected the state and local entities' argument that the phrase "all taxation" applies only to direct taxes and not excise taxes. The court added that Congress specifically carved out real property taxes from the "all taxation" exemption, but did not carve out the types of transfer taxes at issue in this case. The court vacated the district court's order and remanded with direction that the district court enter summary judgment for the FHFA, Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac. In a statement issued after the decision, one Michigan county stated that it plans to seek Supreme Court review.
President Obama Nominates New FHFA Director
On May 1, President Obama announced the nomination of Representative Mel Watt (D-NC) to serve as Director of the FHFA. Mr. Watt has represented portions of Charlotte and other North Carolina communities since 1993 and currently is a member of the House Committees on Financial Services and Judiciary. He would replace FHFA Acting Director Edward DeMarco, who federal and state Democratic policymakers and housing groups have called on to be replaced, in part based on his decision to not direct Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to engage in broad principal reduction programs. On the same day as the President’s announcement, the Congressional Budget Office released a report that examined three options for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to use principal forgiveness, which the CBO finds would be likely to (i) result in small savings to the government, (ii) slightly reduce mortgage foreclosure and delinquency rates, and (iii) slightly boost overall economic growth.
FHFA Updates Securitization Platform, Contractual and Disclosure Framework Progress
On April 30, the FHFA published a progress report on the current design principles and functions on the common securitization platform for residential mortgage-backed securities that it is building. The report explains that Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHFA are working to (i) establish an initial ownership and governance structure, (ii) design dedicated resources and establish an independent location site for the platform team, (iii) develop the design, scope and functional requirements for the platform’s modules and develop the initial business operational process model, (iv) develop a multi-year plan for building, testing and deployment of the system, and (v) develop and begin testing the platform. The report also reviews the status of the alignment of Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s securitization contracts and standards, including ongoing efforts to align (i) solicitation of borrower refinances of loans in a pool, (ii) repurchases and substitutions of loans from a pool, (iii) representations and warranties, and (iv) pooling practices. According to the report, the FHFA also will continue to (i) identify and develop standards in data, disclosure and seller/servicer contracts, (ii) develop and execute work plans for alignment activities with regard to common standards and creation of legal/contractual documents to facilitate varied credit risk transfer transactions, and (iii) engage with the public in a variety of forums to seek feedback and incorporate revisions and support FHFA progress reports to the public. The report also discusses efforts to respond to concerns about non-guaranteed residential mortgage-backed securities.
FHFA Announces Two-Year HARP Extension
On April 11, the FHFA announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will extend the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) to December 31, 2015. The program was set to expire at the end of 2013. In addition, the FHFA plans to launch a nationwide campaign to educate consumers about HARP. The FHFA announcement also includes HARP frequently-asked-questions and eligibility criteria for a HARP refinance.
Second Circuit Allows FHFA MBS Suits to Proceed
On April 5, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit affirmed a district court’s partial denial of a financial institution’s motion to dismiss on standing and timeliness grounds a suit brought by the FHFA. Fed. Hous. Fin. Agency v. UBS Americas, Inc., No. 12-3207, 2013 WL 1352457 (2d Cir. Apr. 5, 2013) The FHFA brought multiple suits against numerous institutions alleging that the offering documents provided to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in connection with the sale of $6.4 billion in residential MBS included materially false statements or omitted material information, resulting in massive losses. The institutions moved to dismiss, contending that (i) the securities claims were time-barred, (ii) FHFA had no standing to pursue the action, and (iii) a negligent misrepresentation claim failed to state a claim upon which relief could be granted. The district court denied the motion to dismiss with respect to the statutory claims and granted it only with respect to the negligent misrepresentation claim. On appeal, the Second Circuit held that the action, filed within three years after the FHFA was appointed conservator of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae, was timely under the relevant sections of Housing and Economic Recovery Act, and that the FHFA has standing to bring the action. The decision, on interlocutory appeal from the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, holds implications for more than a dozen other similar actions the FHFA has filed.
FHFA OIG Calls for Oversight of Counterparty Compliance with Consumer Protection Laws
On March 26, the FHFA Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued a report that concludes the FHFA has failed to actively oversee how Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac monitor counterparty compliance with federal and state consumer protection laws. The OIG review found that the FHFA is vulnerable to questions about why it does not have a strategy to monitor the Enterprises’ activities to assess whether they are aligned with the public interest as reflected in federal and state laws and regulations, and that the Enterprises’ failure to pursue seller repurchase demands related to mortgages in default with no material underwriting deficiencies—but that were originated in violation of consumer protection laws—may result in losses to the Enterprises that could be avoided or mitigated. The OIG concludes that given the FHFA’s duty under HERA to ensure that the activities of the Enterprises are consistent with the public interest, the FHFA should develop and implement a risk-based plan to monitor the Enterprises’ oversight of their counterparties’ compliance with contractual requirements, including consumer protection laws. According to the report, the FHFA has begun to put together a plan to address this oversight role.
FHFA Announces Streamlined Modification Initiative
On March 27, the FHFA announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will begin a new loan modification initiative on July 1, 2013. As described in more detail in Fannie Mae Servicing Guide Announcement SVC-2013-05 and Freddie Mac Bulletin Number 2013-5, servicers will be required to offer eligible borrowers who are at least 90 days delinquent on their mortgage a way to lower their monthly payments and modify their mortgage without requiring financial or hardship documentation. Eligible borrowers will need to demonstrate a willingness and ability to pay by making three on-time trial payments, after which the mortgage will be permanently modified. Borrowers will still have the option to document income and financial hardship, which could result in a modification with additional savings. The program will expire on August 1, 2015.