The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) is signaling a more optimistic tone in the early months of President Trump’s return to the White House. Speaking at a recent secondary mortgage market conference in New York, MBA President Bob Broeksmit outlined what he sees as a positive turn for the mortgage and housing finance industries, crediting early regulatory pullbacks and a more industry-friendly approach out of Washington.
According to reporting from Mortgage News Daily, Broeksmit said the group jumped in right after the election, getting in front of key decision makers and making their case. Since January, the MBA has had steady conversations with the administration, Congress, and housing agencies, pushing for fewer regulatory barriers and more space for the industry to operate.
One of the changes Broeksmit pointed to was the reversal of a policy that had turned Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac into unofficial compliance monitors, which the MBA viewed as unnecessary and restrictive. He also noted the delay of federal energy rules and floodplain construction requirements, both of which the MBA believes add costs and complications without enough benefit. The group’s still pushing for those rules to be tossed entirely, but the delay is seen as a good start.
At the same time, Broeksmit addressed concerns about staffing cuts across the housing agencies and GSEs. While not all the reductions were needed, he said a leaner structure could help the agencies stick to their core responsibilities and give lenders more room to do their jobs.
He also welcomed the shift at the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which has taken a step back from aggressive policymaking. While the MBA has often clashed with the CFPB in the past, Broeksmit said some of its guidance is still useful and shouldn’t be eliminated just for the sake of deregulation.
On the affordability side, both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac shared updates at the conference. Fannie said that streamlining condo underwriting and title processes saved borrowers and lenders close to $17 million last year. Freddie introduced a new income calculator that supports a wider range of borrowers, including those who are self-employed, and plans to expand its capabilities later this year.
It’s still early, but the MBA clearly sees the regulatory climate shifting in its favor. Whether that translates to lasting improvements for borrowers and affordability is another question, but for now, the industry is feeling some tailwind.