FHFA yesterday proposed a sweeping rule that would codify Sandra Thompson’s equitable- and fair-housing standards in a rule that any future FHFA director would have to work a lot harder to reverse. Indeed, not only would new plans become a mandatory part of the GSEs’ mission, but violations of them by Fannie or Freddie or any other fair-lending, equity, or related standard by all of the housing agencies could be sanctioned as unfair or deceptive acts or practices (UDAP), a page from the CFPB’s rulebook that affords a far greater scope to call an action discrimination and then punish it at even greater legal and reputational cost. Even if spared new plans – and that’s a big if – Home Loan Banks would also be brought into a far more exacting equity construct far beyond current adherence to statutory AHP requirements….
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