U.S. House Passes Bill To Reverse Mortgage Fee Changes

By KIMBERLEY HAAS The U.S. House of Representatives has passed the Middle-Class Borrower Protection Act which would reverse recent changes to fees charged by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. Republicans have been fighting changes to the loan-level price adjustment matrix which were announced earlier this year and scheduled to go into effect on May 1. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, who introduced the act, has repeatedly said that the new fee structure is “a socialist redistribution of wealth.” “It’s a scheme created by the Federal Housing Finance Agency that forces financially responsible homebuyers with good credit to subsidize those with bad credit. Responsible action should never be penalized, and irresponsible action shouldn’t be subsidized. Under this rule, a majority of new…

Republicans Continue To Fight Mortgage Fee Changes

By KIMBERLEY HAAS Changes to fees for loans backed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac continue to be a hot topic as Republicans push to repeal them. The changes to the loan-level price adjustment matrix by officials at the Federal Housing Finance Agency went into effect on May 1 and critics are opposed to the notion that homebuyers with good credit scores and substantial down payments will pay more so fees for borrowers limited by income or wealth can be reduced. Rep. Warren Davidson, R-Ohio, who introduced the Middle Class Borrower Protection Act on Monday, again attacked the policy on Wednesday. He refers to it as “a socialist redistribution of wealth.” Biden’s mortgage fee is a socialist redistribution of wealth.…

Industry Concerns Shared At MBA Conference In Washington, DC

By KIMBERLEY HAAS Attendees at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s National Advocacy Conference shared concerns about housing affordability, trigger leads, and changes to the loan-level price adjustment matrix. The conference was held last week at the JW Marriott in Washington, DC. MBA members learned about the political and market landscapes on Tuesday before speaking with their elected state representatives on Wednesday. Over 300 members from 39 states participated in those Capitol Hill meetings. Kellie Allen, vice president of production at Synergy One Lending, was at the conference representing Idaho Mortgage Lenders Association. She was looking forward to talking about the challenges members of her association are facing. “Affordable housing is a huge one, of course, and then one of the big…