FHFA Announces Changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s G-Fee Pricing
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced targeted changes to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s guarantee fee pricing by eliminating upfront fees for certain borrowers and affordable mortgage products, while implementing targeted increases to the upfront fees for most cash-out refinance loans.
Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guarantee the payment of principal and interest on their mortgage-backed securities and charges a fee for providing that guarantee. The guarantee fee, also known as a g-fee, covers projected credit losses from borrower defaults over the life of the loans, administrative costs, and a return on capital.
FHFA has announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will eliminate upfront fees for:
- First-time home buyers at or below 100% of area median income (AMI) in most of the United States and below 120% of AMI in high-cost areas;
- HomeReady and Home Possible loans (Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s flagship affordable mortgage programs);
- HFA (Housing Finance Agency) Advantage and HFA Preferred loans; and
- Single-family loans supporting the Duty to Serve program.
In addition, the upfront fees for cash-out refinance loans will be revised to reflect a range of pricing changes from a decrease of 1 percentage point to an increase of 1 percentage point.
The fee reductions will go into effect as soon as possible and the implementation of new fees for cash-out refinance loans will begin Feb. 1, 2023.
Latest from NAHBNow
Economics
Apr 27, 2026
Housing’s ‘Silver Tsunami’ Is Coming, But It Won’t Hit Every MarketThe so-called “silver tsunami” describes the wave of millions of homes expected to hit the market as older Americans increasingly decide to sell their properties. However, industry experts are noting that this “tsunami” isn’t landing where it’s needed most.
Membership
Apr 24, 2026
Blueprint to 100: Industry Pulse Check Launches May 1Blueprint to 100 is NAHB's initiative to build an association that better meets industry needs as we approach the 100th anniversary of our founding. The Industry Pulse Check — launching Friday, May 1 — is our first step in this initiative to gain the insights we need to build an association that meets your needs.
Latest Economic News
Economics
Apr 23, 2026
The Silver Tsunami Isn’t Landing Where It’s Needed MostThe “silver tsunami” refers to the wave of housing inventory expected as older homeowners downsize or transition out of their homes. According to the latest American Community Survey, there are an estimated 61.2 million people in the U.S. aged 65 years or older, representing about 18% of the population.
Economics
Apr 22, 2026
State-Level Employment Situation: February 2026February’s labor market data point to a notable pullback in employment, with job losses concentrated across a majority of states and only modest gains elsewhere. While January showed solid momentum, February’s decline reflects emerging softness in hiring conditions, alongside uneven performance across the country.
Economics
Apr 21, 2026
Population Growth and Housing Supply Dynamics at the County Level in 2025U.S. population growth slowed notably in the latest Vintage 2025 population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, with the nation expanding by just 0.5% in 2025, roughly half the pace of the prior year. The deceleration was primarily driven by a sharp decline in net international migration (NIM), which dropped from 2.7 million to 1.3 million, while natural change remained relatively stable.