Federal Housing Finance Agency April 2023 – Federal Register Recent Federal Regulation Documents

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is adopting as final, without change, a proposed rule that amends its Enterprise Duty to Serve Underserved Markets regulation to add a definition of ``colonia census tract,'' to serve as a census tract-based proxy for a ``colonia.'' The final rule also amends the definition of ``high-needs rural region'' in the regulation by substituting ``colonia census tract'' for ``colonia.'' In addition, the final rule revises the definition of ``rural area'' in the regulation to include all colonia census tracts regardless of their location. These changes will make certain activities by the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation (Freddie Mac) (collectively, the Enterprises) in all colonia census tracts eligible for Duty to Serve credit. The intent of the changes is to facilitate the Enterprises' ability to operationalize their Duty to Serve activities in colonia census tracts and thereby help increase liquidity in these underserved communities.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is issuing a notice of a regulatory review to be conducted in accordance with the process set forth in its Regulatory Review Plan published in February 2012, and is requesting comments on how its regulations may be made more effective and less burdensome.