Apply Online
Schedule a Call

Author name: Ricky Vasquez

Kentucky bill would freeze property taxes for senior homeowners

Affordability, Aging in Place, HWmember, Kentucky, Mortgage, Property Tax, Reverse /

A proposed constitutional amendment that would freeze property tax assessments for 65-and-older residents in Kentucky has cleared a state Senate committee — one of several efforts to limit rising tax bills for elderly homeowners. Senate Bill 51, sponsored by state Sen. Mike Nemes (R-Shepherdsville), would lock in the assessed value of a senior’s primary residence […]

Kentucky bill would freeze property taxes for senior homeowners Read More »

CEA analysis weighs CFPB’s economic impact

CFPB, Compliance, Consumer Protection, Dodd-Frank, Financial crisis, HWmember, Legal, Mortgage, Mortgage Rates, Politics, Regulatory, Regulatory Compliance /

A new report from the Council of Economic Advisers (CEA) estimates that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has imposed $237 billion to $369 billion in cumulative costs on U.S. consumers since its creation in 2011, largely through higher borrowing costs. For 2024 alone, the report estimates $24 billion to $38 billion in costs. The

CEA analysis weighs CFPB’s economic impact Read More »

Housing starts rise to five-month high in broad increase

Housing Inventory, Housing markets, Originations /

New residential construction in the US rose to a five-month high in December, as homebuilders boosted production to take advantage of lower borrowing costs. Processing Content Housing starts increased 6.2% to an annual pace of 1.4 million homes in December, according to figures released Wednesday by the government, which were delayed by fall’s federal shutdown.

Housing starts rise to five-month high in broad increase Read More »

Fed’s Bowman says Basel proposal still on track for end of Q1

Federal Reserve, Minimum capital requirements, Politics and policy, Regulation and compliance, Risk-based capital /

Key Insight: Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman is racing ahead to publish Basel III for commentary before the end of the first quarter. She’s previously highlighted that changes will be introduced to the framework to encourage bank participation in mortgages. Expert Quote: “I’ve said for a number of months now that we

Fed’s Bowman says Basel proposal still on track for end of Q1 Read More »

Recapture rate is up as loan performance splits: MBA Servicing

Economic news, Servicing /

Rising refinance recapture and a widening split in borrower performance are redefining the servicing outlook, speakers at a Mortgage Bankers Association conference in Dallas said Wednesday. Processing Content The latter, which has stemmed from what’s been referred to as a K-shaped economy, is “a tale of a few stories or maybe substories,” Joel Kan, deputy

Recapture rate is up as loan performance splits: MBA Servicing Read More »

Bank turns to nonbank to run mortgage production

MARKETING TO BORROWERS, Mortgage technology, Originations /

At a time when government officials and politicians are grappling with finding ways to increase bank participation in mortgage lending, a Pennsylvania depository is teaming with a nonbank to deliver the function to its customers. Processing Content Firstrust Bank, based in Conshohocken outside Philadelphia, has entered a strategic partnership with MortgageCountry in nearby Blue Bell,

Bank turns to nonbank to run mortgage production Read More »

Data breach hits 1 million Figure customers

Consumer lending, Cyber security, Data security, Fintech, Identity theft, Technology /

Key insight: Attackers are bypassing technical security by impersonating IT staff and tricking employees into handing over credentials. What’s at stake: The leak hits Figure during a critical financial window, coinciding with the pricing and upsizing of a secondary stock offering. Supporting data: The breach exposes approximately 967,000 unique email addresses, along with names, physical

Data breach hits 1 million Figure customers Read More »

Why some cities resist national housing slowdowns

Home Prices, Housing markets /

Uneven cooling in the national housing market is sharpening focus on why some cities continue to defy the slowdown. While macro indicators point to softer demand, select metro areas maintain steady homeowner lending volume. Processing Content Local conditions, rather than national sentiment, shape borrower confidence, application flow, and loan performance. These local conditions are reflected

Why some cities resist national housing slowdowns Read More »

White House report says CFPB raised borrowing costs

Consumer lending, Politics and policy, Trump administration /

Key insight: A report from the White House Council of Economic Advisers claimed that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s rules raised consumer interest rates and reduced the availability of credit since its inception. Supporting data: The report says the agency’s actions raised consumers’ borrowing costs by between $237 to $369 billion over the 13 years

White House report says CFPB raised borrowing costs Read More »