Mike Reynolds, Single-Family VP of Credit Risk Transfer, sits down with Andrew Davidson & Co., Inc. (AD&Co) founder Andy Davidson to talk all things risk intelligence, including planting the first seed about a GSE CRT market in 2010 and connecting with Freddie Mac to launch the first GSE CRT securities transaction in 2013. AD&Co was founded in 1992 and focuses on bringing the analytics and tools of Wall Street to the buy-side, enabling all parties to conduct business fairly.The company’s interest in GSE CRT stemmed from an obligation to making the mortgage market function better as well as from seeing a strong appetite among credit experts for more products to invest in. 

Freddie Mac Single-Family Home Starts Here

CRTcast: Episode 1 - Talking Risk Intelligence with AD&Co

In Honor of Women’s History Month, we revisit a conversation between two dynamic women –Barbara Corcoran, Founder of The Corcoran Group, and “shark” on ABC’s hit show Shark Tank and executive vice president and head of Freddie Mac’s Single-Family business, Donna Corley. Barbara sat down with Donna during the Fall 2020 Freddie Mac Single-Family annual CONNECT conference to discuss the #LeadingTheWay initiative, share personal stories on career growth and practical advice on honing your "entrepreneurial spirit" regardless of where you are in your career journey. 

#LeadingTheWay: Barbara Corcoran and Donna Corley on Creating Your Career Success Story

Now, more than ever, Servicers are focused on how to efficiently deliver the best product for the homeowners. Hear how Cenlar, a Freddie Mac Servicer client, is using a new end-to-end default management platform, Resolve (SM) to get fast decisions on mortgage relief options, while saving time and resources. 

The Housing Industry’s Resolve (SM) to Speed Up Mortgage Relief

Learn more about the partnership between Federal Housing Finance Agency, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae to help borrowers challenged with limited English proficiency navigate the homebuying process. The result has been a resource that has assisted lenders, servicers, housing counselors, real estate professionals and other industry stakeholders in better serving LEP borrowers. The Mortgage Translations Clearinghouse holds translated mortgage-related terms, documents, and homeownership resources in the several languages representing some of the largest population and cultural segments within the United States, helping these consumers understand topics such as fraud avoidance, foreclosure prevention, financial wellness and mortgage options. https://www.fhfa.gov/MortgageTranslations 

The Language of Home: Overcoming Barriers for Limited English Proficiency Borrowers

This episode explores the historic and social homeownership challenges faced by Native American communities. Single-Family Affordable Lending Manager, James Cromartie, and special guest Executive Director of Lakota Funds, Tawney Brunsch discuss work being done to address the scarcity and limitations of homeownership and efforts underway to prepare borrowers on Native American reservations for successful homeownership through Freddie Mac’s Duty to Serve initiative. 

A Duty to Serve: Sustainable Native American Homeownership

Mortgage finance data models have revolutionized how the mortgage industry does everything from assess risk to assist borrowers who are having difficulty making their payments. They are used to project interest rates, mortgage rates, house prices, unemployment rates, defaults and prepayments, and other key outputs that determine our business success and viability. But what happens when a global pandemic throws the models out of whack? Two industry experts explore how the industry can best use data as a tool for long-term business growth and preparedness even in the throes of a “black swan” event.

Makes MEDA Sense

The global economy is changing all around us, and despite uncertainty, everyone from fintech companies and lenders to local governments and real estate professionals are adapting to serve homeowners and potential buyers during this time. Valuation methods and supporting digital tools are being advanced in a major way. One estimate is that this crisis is advancing the digital move by five years – speed is motivated by need.From expanding automated collateral evaluation to offering the ability for an appraiser to complete and exterior only appraisal, this episode discusses the changes and the digital tools that have been leveraged to support valuations. 

Innovation Amid Uncertainty: The Future of Mortgage

Growing investor and borrower demand along with heightened regulatory pressure often have mortgage lenders backlogged with integration work and operational inefficiency. Freddie Mac is focused on delivering solutions to clients that will increase efficiency and data accuracy, saving them time and money. Learn more about how Freddie Mac is using application programming interfaces (APIs) to speed up and simplify pre-qualifications, simplify decisioning on workout options and create a more efficient borrower experience. 

Leveraging Digitization: How APIs Can Help Drive Efficiency Throughout the Mortgage Process

Income misrepresentation is one of the most common forms of fraud today, but the Freddie Mac is on top of it. Listen in as Carrie Schoenhals, a Single-Family Fraud Risk investigator, shares stories from her experiences in the field fighting income misrep, while providing tips on how you can identify fraud and get in front of it early 

Fraudcast: Episode 1 – Investigating Income Misrepresentation

The impact of COVID-19 has added additional layers of complexity and financial hardships to housing affordability and homebuying readiness. Borrower Help Centers are an integral part of the housing ecosystem, and they’ve taken a frontline role in helping those in crisis mitigate the impact of COVID-19. Learn how two Borrower Help Centers in distinct markets are making a difference.

Resources During Hardship: Borrower Help Center Response to Communities in Crisis

Mortgage forbearance can be a huge source of relief for borrowers affected by COVID-19. However, there's confusion about how and when borrowers are expected to repay the delayed payments and what happens after the forbearance term. This episode discusses a new payment deferral relief option for borrowers. Our guests, Mike Zarro, mortgage servicing executive for Truist, Don Griffin, Freddie Mac vice president, Servicer Relationship and Performance Management, provide insight on how this helps servicers, borrowers and the evolving industry. 

#HelpStartsHere with Payment Deferral: A Simple Solution After Forbearance

In today’s digital world, consumers want fast, easy online transactions – and this has become more apparent and necessary in light of COVID-19. With automated and digital solutions lenders can provide a more electronic experience, cut costs, close loans faster and simplify the loan process while reducing risk for everyone involved. In this episode, Terri Merlino, Senior Vice President & Chief Credit Officer, David Fulford, Vice President, Strategic Technology Integration, and special guest, Tamara West, investor specialist with client partner, nbkc bank discuss Loan Product Advisor® asset and income modeler (AIM) for self-employed and how it has made a difference during this heightened time of need.

Leveraging Automation: Assessing Borrower Financials with AIM

Single-Family’s Senior Vice President, Portfolio Management, Kevin Palmer sets the record straight on mortgage relief options during COVID-19. He frames the conversation with the current facts, industry figures and provides answers to the most commonly asked questions related to forbearance. 

The COVID-19 Forbearance Episode: Facts, Figures and FAQs

From the origination process all the way to the investor, Freddie Mac is supporting the industry holistically in the wake of COVID-19’s effects. Are we better equipped than in the past to deal with this crisis? How are we working to be a stabilizing force in the industry and a resource for consumers? Freddie Mac executives discuss how they’re tackling unprecedented challenges head on, and how this crisis has strengthened their commitment to US homebuyers.

#HelpStartsHere: A Roundtable Discussion

The Single-Family Freddie Mac Home Starts Here podcast is your connection to all the latest industry trends, insights and points of view on the mortgage market. Take a front row seat to the conversations that are shaping the decisions in Freddie Mac Single-Family and first-hand information to help you grow your business.