Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Clarify Seller-Paid Financing Rules

Louisiana REALTORS® • April 18, 2024

A Message from Ken Fears, NAR Director of Conventional Finance and Valuation Policy

Earlier this week, both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac published explicit confirmations that buyers whose agent is compensated by the seller will continue to have access to financing through those institutions.  Furthermore, so long as it remains "customary" for the seller to pay commissions, those will not be added to the interest party contributions (IPC) and subject to the caps on IPCs.


Interpretation of this rule under the proposed settlement was of great concern, and NAR wrote to Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the FHA seeking confirmation of our interpretation. In a letter to NAR, FHA confirmed that this interpretation does hold.


NAR will continue to press for access to affordable financing options and keep you up to date on any changes.


To view the post on The Hub on NAR's website, please click here.

By Louisiana REALTORS® January 29, 2026
Built for How You Work
A real estate agent can help you navigate debt before applying for a mortgage.
By Louisiana REALTORS® January 23, 2026
Confused about debt and mortgage approval? Learn how lenders view debt, what DTI really means, and how to protect your buying power before shopping.
By Louisiana REALTORS® January 23, 2026
NAR is pleased to share the latest consumer guide offering homeowners factors to consider when deciding whether to sell their home. The guide includes seven discussion points to help potential sellers think through the decision with the help of a real estate professional who’s a REALTOR®. As a reminder, all guides in this series are available for download—in both English and Spanish—on facts.realtor . Please allow up to two weeks for the Spanish version of the latest resource to be translated and uploaded. For ease of reference, below is a list of the most recent guides: NEW: Thinking of Selling? 7 Factors to Consider How to Make Your Home More Energy Efficient Can’t Pay Your Mortgage? You Have Options 8 Tips for Selling Your Home in Winter Hiring a Remodeling Contractor Real Estate Contract Contingencies Thank you for your continued engagement with the “Consumer Guide” series and for sharing the resources with prospective clients to ensure they have the information they need to find success in their home buying or selling journey. Remember that these guides are for informational purposes only and are not meant to enact or change any existing NAR policy. Be on the lookout for the next consumer guide, which will look at factors to consider when deciding whether to purchase real estate as an investment.
Show More