What's New

• Eliminating previously announced increase of Market Condition delivery fee; previewing new conforming loan limits and updates to credit and pricing.
  On October 3, we previewed several upcoming changes that will increase affordability for homebuyers and liquidity to lenders in the current challenging market environment. These planned changes, which will be finalized and announced in an upcoming Single-Family Seller/Servicer Guide Bulletin, include eliminating the previously announced increase of the Market Condition delivery fee rate, previewing requirements for mortgages with higher conforming loan limits in certain high-cost areas, and updating other pricing and credit terms.

Originate and Underwrite Loans

• Reminder: October 1 moratorium on FHA's Risk-Based Premiums Initiative in Loan Prospector®.
  On October 1, 2008, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development implemented a one-year moratorium on the Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) Risk-Based Premium structure. Get the details on managing submissions to the FHA TOTAL Mortgage Scorecard through Loan Prospector.

Sell and Deliver Loans

• Reminder: Important October and November dates for pricing and credit-related changes.
  In July we announced the requirement that you must use the 2008 AMI estimates to originate mortgages delivered to Freddie Mac on or after October 1, 2008. As a follow up to our June 19 announcement, in July we also issued requirements regarding the delivery of mortgages with commitments of insurance by Triad Guaranty Insurance Corporation and its affiliates.  In August, we announced upcoming changes to our delivery fee rates that are effective for Freddie Mac settlements on or after November 7, 2008.  Please note that we have suspended implementation of the 25 basis point increase in the Market Condition delivery fee rate.  Review the details of these requirement changes with our at-a-glance chart [PDF 187K].

Service Loans

• Reminder: GoldWorks® retirement on November 30.
  On November 30, 2008, the private Freddie Mac GoldWorks network managed by AT&T will be retired. To ensure Sellers and Servicers are prepared for the GoldWorks retirement, read about how to request disconnection from the GoldWorks network and more.

Important Reminders

• Save the date!
  Visit us in Room # 2014 at the MBA 95th Annual Convention & Expo, October 19-22, in San Francisco and discover how we're with you every step of the way, providing practical solutions for your lending and liquidity needs.  At the same time, we continue to seek new ways to help you create and preserve homeownership opportunities for your borrowers. For more information on our presence at this conference, visit the Mortgage Bankers Association's Web site.

Valuable Tools, Resources and Training

• HomeSteps®: Creating opportunities to pursue homeownership dreams.
  In an adjusting market, we continue to look for ways to help you create opportunities for homebuyers and your sourcing business. Let your borrowers know about HomeSteps, a resource that offers a free search and information service regarding Freddie Mac-owned homes currently available for sale.

• Alternatives to Foreclosure Overview webinars.
  Now, more than ever, it's important that you are familiar with the various options that Freddie Mac offers to help you work with borrowers facing financial difficulties. Register for any of our scheduled Alternatives to Foreclosure Overview webinars for a live discussion, or take advantage of a recorded session and other resources that enable you to learn at your own pace and convenience.

• Newly recorded default management webinars.
  Check out our newly recorded default management webinars that will provide you with tips and insights on how you can work as effectively and efficiently as possible with defaulted borrowers.