FHFA Announces 3 New Tenant Protection Policy Changes
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced three policy changes effective for all new multifamily mortgage loan applications signed on or after Feb. 28, 2025.
At that time, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s loan documents will require borrowers to provide tenants:
- A 30-day notice of rent increases;
- A five-day grace period for late rent; and
- A 30-day notice of the lease term expiration.
These provisions will not apply to existing mortgages or loan documents signed before the effective date in February 2025.
FHFA, along with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, are expected to release more details about the implementation of these policies in August. They also announced that they “will continue to evaluate options for codifying additional tenant protections that advance sustainable housing in a manner that reflects the needs of both tenants and housing providers.”
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The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) released the NAHB Remodeling Market Index (RMI) for the third quarter, posting a reading of 62—up one point compared to the previous quarter.
For the first time since 2022, the share of new homes with two-story foyers increased, according to the Census Bureau's Survey of Construction (SOC). Despite the increase, the market share of two-story foyers has generally trended downward since 2017, with most new single-family homes being built without a two-story foyer both nationally and regionally.
Latest Economic News
In the third quarter of 2026, the NAHB Remodeling Market Index (RMI) posted a reading of 62, up one point compared to the previous quarter. The RMI has remained within a narrow band between 59 and 70 for the past four years.
Mortgage application activity declined as the 30-year fixed mortgage rate rose sharply. The Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) Market Composite Index, a measure of total mortgage application volume, decreased 7.7% month-over-month in September on a seasonally adjusted basis. Compared to a year ago, total mortgage applications were lower by 35.4%.
Mortgage rates rose sharply in September as multiple factors applied significant upward pressure on the U.S. treasury yields. According to Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.86% in September, up nearly 20 basis points (bps) from August.