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U.S. Set To Sue Big Banks Over Bad Mortgages Agency says B of A, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs, others misrepresented securities By NELSON D. SCHWARTZ The federal agency that oversees the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is set to file suits against more than a dozen big banks, accusing them of misrepresenting the quality of mortgage securities they assembled and sold at the height of the housing bubble, and seeking billions of dollars in compensation. The Federal Housing Finance Agency suits, which are expected to be filed in the coming days in federal court, are aimed at Bank...

US Preparing To Sue Banks For Billions Over Misrepresenting Safety Of Mortgage Securities Zeke Miller Sep. 1, 2011, 10:37 PM The New York Times scoops that the federal government is preparing to file suit against a dozen major banks in the coming days for their roles in 2008 financial crisis. The Federal Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, is alleging that the banks misrepresented the quality of mortgages bundled together as securities — billing subprime loans as secure investments. Among the banks set to be slapped with lawsuits according to the Times are: Bank of America,...

The federal agency that oversees the mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is set to file suits against more than a dozen big banks, accusing them of misrepresenting the quality of mortgage securities they assembled and sold at the height of the housing bubble, and seeking billions of dollars in compensation. The Federal Housing Finance Agency suits, which are expected to be filed in the coming days in federal court, are aimed at Bank of America, JPMorgan Chase, Goldman Sachs and Deutsche Bank, among others, according to three individuals briefed on the matter. The suits stem from subpoenas the...

The Obama administration proposed raising fees for borrowers and requiring large down payments for home loans as part of a long-term effort to reduce the government's outsized footprint in the housing market, but warned that these moves could increase mortgage rates and potentially reduce the availability of the 30-year fixed rate mortgage, a mainstay of American housing for decades. In a long-awaited white paper, the administration said that it intends to wind down Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which together with the Federal Housing Administration provide more than 90 percent of housing finance, but said the process could take five...

Just last month the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), the agency responsible for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, responded to our FOIA lawsuit by telling us that all of the documents we seek are not "FOIA-able"! Here's the exact language the Obama agency used in its recent court filing: "...Any records created by or held in the custody of the Enterprises reflecting their political campaign contributions or policies, stipulations and requirements concerning campaign contributions necessarily are private corporate documents. They are not 'agency records' subject to disclosure under FOIA."

A Treasury announcement Christmas Eve raises a lot of questions about the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. •Is the Administration planning a future where the two companies become permanent government agencies? •Is the Administration laying the groundwork to expand the capacity of the two agencies to retain more mortgages and buy more mortgage-backed securities? •Is the administration planning to ramp up loan modifications involving principal reductions, which would mean more near-term lossess for Fan and Fred? Those are some of the questions posed by mortgage industry consultant Ed Pinto.

James Lockhart, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, is expected to announce his resignation very soon, the American Banker reported Wednesday, citing several sources.