HousingWire CEO discusses FHFA refi plan with CNN

The Federal Housing Finance Agency plan to allow more borrowers to refinance into lower-rate mortgages brought plenty of analysis from the industry about the plan’s merits. As part of the plan, the FHFA removed the 125% loan-to-value ceiling for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans to qualify for a refi. The federal regulator also cut back on risk-based fees and representation and warranty risks that make lenders reluctant to accept certain loans. An appraisal also is no longer required as long as an automated valuation model estimate is already provided. HousingWire CEO Paul Jackson shared his views on the plan during an interview with CNN American Morning Tuesday. “There are 11 million mortgages underwater,” Jackson said. “There’s 4 million borrowers who might benefit from this. It’s certainly a positive. I don’t know how you can say it’s not a positive to say, ‘We’re going to actually help people who are doing the right thing: They are underwater on their mortgage, yet they are still making payments’. Certainly giving them the ability access ultra low mortgage rates is a good thing. It’s good for the economy and it’s good for the mortgage market.”