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Led by Senators Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) and Mark Warner (D-Virginia), a group of colleagues from the Senate Banking Committee introduced the bill, S. 752, today, in an effort to push Congress to get serious about exploring reform options for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, according to a press release.

CoreLogic reported that 10.8 percent of all residential homes were underwater in Q4 (about 5.4 million properties), which was down from 13.3 percent in the same quarter a year earlier – a decline of nearly 19 percent, or 1.2 million homes. The Q4 total was up slightly from the 10.3 percent that was reported for Q3 2014 – an increase of 3.3 percent.

The 2014 Conservatorship Scorecard expressed the expectation that the Enterprises would work to increase access to mortgage credit for creditworthy borrowers. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have since released programs that allow buyers to obtain a mortgage with a 3 percent down payment. In addition to providing better access to borrowers, the report stated improvements in the Enterprises’ risks. The improvements include stronger underwriting standards and stricter purchasing guidelines. For example, 97 percent loan-to-value (LTV) ratio loans must be fixed-rate and cannot have an adjustable rate. This provides a responsible approach to improving access to credit while also furthering safe and sound lending practices.

Renter confidence rose 4.4 points from last year to 62.4, with roughly 5.2 million renters saying they expect to buy a home this year. That’s an increase of 1 million from last year, when 4.2 million renters said they expect to buy a home. Homeowner confidence rose 3.3 points from last year to 70.6.

The “Appraisal Findings Report,” which is available through Message Manager, will be updated in April to include the CU feedback. The report, which is available to Fannie Mae sellers and services, covers appraisals submitted to the UCPD in the prior month and is generally available on the fifth business day of each month. The new report will replace three separate reports Fannie Mae currently provides by combining that information into one file.

According to Diane Swonk, chief economist at Mesirow Financial, “the Great Recession delayed, but did not destroy, dreams of home ownership.” Now, increased job growth, a return of non-bank lenders to the mortgage market, and the expansion of low down payment options should prompt more buyers to enter the market, according to Swonk. According to the report, housing starts are expected to rise at a double-digit pace to 1.14 million, the first year above the 1 million unit mark since 2007. Single family starts are expected to show new signs of life. Home sales are expected to rise a moderate 3 percent to 5.7 million.

The non-jury trial in the U.S. District Court of the Southern District of New York in Manhattan is scheduled to begin on Monday, March 16. If no last-minute settlement is reached, Nomura and RBS would be the first two financial institutions to go to trial out of the 18 lenders FHFA sued in 2011 to recoup U.S. taxpayer costs following the government's $188 billion bailout of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2008, after which the government seized control of both Enterprises. The other 16 lenders have paid a combined total of about $24 billion to settle with FHFA, including $9.3 billion paid by Bank of America in March 2014.

Mortgage credit availability reached its peak in August 2004, recording an index score of 134.6. Access began to drop over the next several years. Then, in May 2007, both the housing and mortgage availability began a multiple year plunge, leaving home values down more than 22 percent and credit the tightest it had been in years. In September 2010, the ZMAI bottomed out at 9.6. Today, the ZMAI currently sits at 71.5 and access to mortgage credit has improved significantly, and is roughly two-thirds of the way back to the 2002 pre-crisis level of 100.

U.S. District Judge Katherine Forrest approved the settlement, which resolves allegations from investors that the banks failed in their role as trustees for mortgage-backed securities trusts containing sloppy loans that were issued by Washington Mutual Inc. before the 2008 financial crisis.

n January, the house passed the bill by a vote of 271 to 154, with 29 Democrats voting in favor of it. However, Senate Democrats led by Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) vowed to fight the bill and it failed to pass. Democrats, including Warren, have said they worry that bills that claim to be aimed at relieving regulatory burdens for small banks are being used to roll back Dodd-Frank for the benefit of the largest financial institutions.