Introduction: Fintech in Housing Finance and FHFA
FHFA’s Office of Financial Technology (Fintech) supports the Agency’s efforts to understand technology-driven developments in housing finance and the associated risks, and to facilitate the development of responsible innovation in FHFA’s regulated entities, which include Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) and the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Fintech Office serves as a centralized information clearinghouse and resource for the Agency on mortgage-related innovations, general trends, and emerging risks in the use of fintech.
FHFA views fintech as the application of new technologies to the production or provision of financial products and services. Fintech in the mortgage finance space can include, among other things, the application of new technologies and digital processes to:
mortgage tech
mortgage origination, underwriting, servicing, investment, and other associated business activities, also known as “mortgage tech”;
proptech
researching, transacting, and managing real estate, also known as “proptech”; and
regtech
regulation and compliance, also known as “regtech”.
The Fintech Office engages internally through the FHFA Fintech Working Group, consisting of Agency leadership and experts across divisions and offices. The Fintech Office engages in external outreach with market participants, including industry firms, non-profits, trade associations, consumer advocacy organizations and academia to support responsible innovation in mortgage finance and an ongoing dialogue on opportunities and barriers to innovation in the mortgage ecosystem.
FHFA’s Housing Finance TechSprints
In July 2024, FHFA held its second TechSprint. This year’s TechSprint, titled “Generative AI in Housing Finance,” was a team-based problem-solving event that brought together experts and practitioners from the technology and housing finance sectors to solve a common challenge: How might the responsible use of generative AI promote a transparent, fair, equitable, and inclusive housing finance system while fostering sustainable homeownership and rental opportunities?
Learn more at the Generative AI in Housing Finance TechSprint webpage.
Learn more about FHFA’s 2023 Velocity TechSprint at the Velocity TechSprint webpage.
Public Listening Session
On Thursday, October 6, 2022, FHFA’s Fintech Office hosted a virtual public listening session to solicit public input on the role of technology in housing finance and how the Agency can most constructively interact with other stakeholders to facilitate responsible innovation. Video and materials from the listening session are available through the links below.
| Listening Session Agenda | Listening Session Video | Listening Session Transcript |
Request For Information
In conjunction with the establishment of the Office of Financial Technology, FHFA is soliciting public input on the role of technology in housing finance, broadly seeking to understand the current landscape of potential innovations throughout the mortgage lifecycle and related processes, risks, and opportunities. FHFA also seeks input on how the Agency can most constructively interact with other stakeholders to facilitate responsible innovation, including the identification of any barriers to or challenges in implementing fintech in the housing finance ecosystem, while also focusing on supporting equity in the housing finance landscape for both homeowners and renters.
RFI: Fintech in Housing Finance (closed 10/31/2022)
View Input Provided here - select “2022 Fintech in Housing Finance RFI" in dropdown menu
View Summary Responses to the Request for Information on Fintech in Housing Finance
News
New! FHFA Announces 2024 Generative AI in Housing Finance TechSprint (3/20/2024)
FHFA Velocity TechSprint webpage
Videos from FHFA Velocity TechSprint
Summary of Key Themes from FHFA’s Velocity TechSprint (12/22/2023)
Blog Post from FHFA Deputy Director Jason Cave on the FHFA Velocity TechSprint (10/20/2023)
FHFA Announces Inaugural Housing Finance TechSprint (4/4/2023)
FHFA Extends Deadline to October 31 on RFI on Fintech in Housing Finance (10/14/2022)
Press Release: FHFA Announces Office of Financial Technology (7/18/2022)
Meet The Team
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Anne Marie Pippin
Deputy Director, DCOR
Division of Conservatorship Oversight and Readiness (DCOR)
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Lawrence Mak
Senior Financial Technology and Innovation Specialist, DCOR
Office of Governance and Strategic Initiatives
Office of Financial Technology
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Stephen Gilbert
Senior Financial Technology and Innovation Specialist, DCOR
Office of Governance and Strategic Initiatives
Office of Financial Technology
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Tracy Stephan
Chief Artificial Intelligence Officer and Associate Director, DCOR
Office of Governance and Strategic Initiatives
Office of Financial Technology
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Leah Price
Senior Financial Technology and Innovation Specialist, DCOR
Office of Governance and Strategic Initiatives
Office of Financial Technology
Connect with Us
To ask questions or request a meeting with the FHFA Office of Financial Technology, please email us at the address below:
Email: Fintech@fhfa.gov
Page last updated: August 1, 2024