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Federal Reserve Floats REO to Rental Idea

Federal Reserve Floats REO to Rental Idea
Mark Cappel
UpdatedMar 29, 2024
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    3 min read
Key Takeaways:
  • The Fed's idea would address glut of REO properties expected in 2012 & 2013.
  • REO to rental is not a plan, but an idea Fed presented to Congress.

Federal Reserve Idea Would Bundle Foreclosed Homes and Sell Them to Investors as Rentals

In a wide-ranging document that outlined the illnesses in the US home lending market, the Federal Reserve last week offered four ideas that, if implemented, would rid the market of the glut of real estate owned (REO) properties, remove incentives for mortgage servicers to foreclose instead of short sale properties, help distressed homeowners by reducing principal on their loans, and loosen overly tightened lending standards.

The so-called "REO to rental" idea generated the most interest in the media. This article outlines its basics. But first a disclaimer: The Fed's The U.S. Housing Market: Current Conditions and Policy Considerations document was just what its title suggests. What the Fed proposed in its Jan. 4, 2012 document is an idea for Congress and President Obama to consider, and is not a law or rule. Some mortgage servicers may create REO-to-rental plans on their own initiative, and others may ignore the Fed's report completely. Bills.com will update this page if Congress or Obama act on the REO to rental idea, or if mortgage servicers create their own plans.

REO to Rental at a Glance

The Fed reports that REO properties made up 25% of all of the 2 million vacant homes in Q2 of 2011. Frighteningly, the number of properties in the early stages of foreclosure is four times the number of REO properties on the market. The Fed expects a 1 million new REOs in both 2012 and 2013, which will continue to push home prices lower. Because of the number of families being pushed from their homes or otherwise do not qualify for mortgages, the rental market has heated up.

The Fed proposes the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) and private REO holders to bundle groups it call "bulk pools" of nearby REO properties and sell them in bulk. This would reduce the per-unit cost of sale, and give the buyer the opportunity to manage the rental management of these units efficiently.

The Fed suggests that some of the buyers of bulk pool REO property could be managed by local non-profits, or local banks. Banks and the FHFA, by rule, are not allowed to rent REO properties. The Fed also entertained the idea of local banks renting their REO properties themselves, or Congress creating incentives for rent-to-own contracts with renters.

Reaction to REO to Rental

Fitch Ratings, a rating company and publisher, found merit in the Fed's REO to rental idea. In particular, it will "limit the growth of the inventory of foreclosed homes, make mortgage credit easier to access, and limit the flow of homes into foreclosure."

Goldman Sachs analysts, by contrast, were not as optimistic. It opined that it would not reduce the number of homes for sale, because properties that are presently not on the market because of low prices would enter the market. In other words, there is simply too much supply in the market due to four years of stagnant sales.

Mortgage market update: the latest

Mortgage rate fluctuations should come as no surprise. If you are buying a home or refinancing your existing mortgage, it is important to stay informed about the current mortgage rates.

Mortgage rates February 21, 2024
According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year mortgage rate for the week of February 21, 2024 stands at 6.9%. This 13 basis points increase from the previous week's rate.
Additionally, Freddie Mac reports that the 15-year mortgage rate for February 21, 2024 is 6.29%, indicating a 17 basis points increase from previous week’s rates.
Note: A basis point is equal to one-hundredth of one percent (0.01%). In numerical terms, if the mortgage rate changes by 20 basis points, it means the rate has changed by 0.20%.

Understanding the impact of mortgage rates on your finances
When it comes to determining your monthly payment, mortgage rates are a key factor to consider. Here are the avergage interest rates (APR) for February 25, 2024 based on Zillow data for borrowers with a high credit score (680-740) in the United States:

  • 30-year conventional loan is 6.88%
  • 15-year conventional loan is 6.08%
    Based on the provided rates, a $279,082 30-year mortgage would result in a monthly payment of $1,834. Alternatively, a 15-year mortgage would require a monthly payment of around $2,367.

Simplify your mortgage journey: Shop around and get pre-approved today!
To make the home-buying or refinancing process a breeze, we highly recommend shopping around for mortgages and getting pre-approved. So, why not Check Out mortgage rates now for the best options available.

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