Freddie Mac

The 30-year average has risen by more than a full percentage point in a little over a month.

Its modifications aim to help two government-sponsored mortgage investors manage risk and rebuild capital while retaining enough flexibility to fulfill their affordable housing missions, said the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s acting director, Sandra Thompson.

Congress waited too long to address the out-of-control housing market, leading to a crisis in 2008. Now, with home prices soaring and the government-sponsored enterprises' portfolios at record levels, lawmakers are in danger of repeating that mistake.

The justices on Wednesday threw out a key part of a challenge brought by firms including Paulson & Co., Pershing Square Capital Management and Fairholme Funds ​to the government’s collection of more than $100 billion in profits from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

DeVito takes over on June 1, replacing interim CEO Mark Grier, who returns to his seat on the government-sponsored agency's board.

The company is still searching for someone to fill the roll on a full-time basis, but the $600,000 annual salary cap may limit the candidate pool.

Some applaud the agency's recent delay of the mandatory compliance date for a new Qualified Mortgage standard. Others say it leads to more uncertainty for lenders, opens the door to additional changes and enables some companies to loosen their underwriting.

The agency issued a proposal moving the compliance date for the Qualified Mortgage rule revamp to October 2022.

The proposal would require the government-sponsored enterprises to craft resolution plans similar to regulations imposed on the largest U.S. banks.

Many have assumed the high court would rule that presidents can fire the Federal Housing Finance Agency director at will. But during oral arguments in a case challenging the agency’s structure, some justices suggested they could stop short of such a decision.