Skip to main content

Policy Page
​Fair Lending, Fair Housing, and Consumer Protection Oversight

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is committed to careful fair lending, fair housing, and unfair or deceptive acts or practices (UDAP) oversight of the regulated entities. Fair lending is central to the principles under which the U.S. housing finance system operates and is a requirement of law. FHFA will never tolerate illegal discrimination by the regulated entities.

We want to hear from you. Questions and feedback on FHFA’s fair lending, fair housing, and consumer protection oversight can be directed to FairLending@fhfa.gov.

Resources

FHFA also announces policy updates and clarifications on the regulated entities' programs, products, and activities.

Fair Lending Insights

FHFA staff contribute to FHFA's Insights Blog by providing commentary on new developments impacting fair lending, fair housing, and consumer protection.

Data and Reporting

FHFA monitors fair lending data and risk presented by regulated entity activities. Our Fair Lending Data page presents information on single-family automated underwriting system applications and loans acquired by the Enterprises subset by race and ethnicity, as well as primary market lender aggregate approval rates subset by race and ethnicity. Information on our data methodology and definitions is located on the Data Notes section of the dashboard.

Fair Lending Reporting Orders

FHFA has also issued Orders on Fair Lending Reporting to the Enterprises. The orders require the Enterprises to submit quarterly reports to FHFA with fair lending information and data to improve the Agency's fair lending supervision and monitoring capabilities.

Supervision Program​

FHFA’s fair lending oversight program is committed to effective, appropriately tailored supervisory measures to ensure that the regulated entities adhere to applicable fair lending compliance standards. FHFA has broad statutory authority to supervise the regulated entities, including authority to monitor and gather information, conduct supervisory examinations, and enforce compliance with law where appropriate. FHFA as a supervisor monitors regulated entities for fair lending risk, conducts supervisory examinations, and, when necessary, takes enforcement action to ensure compliance with fair lending laws.

Guidance

Mortgage Interest Rate Disparity (MIRD) Program

FHFA’s statute provides for a program to assess whether loan pricing by lenders results in disparities for minority borrowers compared with non-minority borrowers of similar creditworthiness. If FHFA makes a preliminary finding that a pattern of disparities exists for a lender, FHFA must refer that finding to the appropriate regulatory or enforcement agency for further review.

In 2021, FHFA finalized its policy approach and began referring its preliminary findings to regulatory or enforcement agencies with jurisdiction to conduct examinations or investigations into potential pricing discrimination.

 

 

Page Last Updated: April 30, 2024​​​