Key Insight: Federal Reserve Gov. Michael Barr said inflation pressures on goods and non-housing services remain elevated and that the Middle East conflict could add to the burden. Expert quote: “I would like to see evidence that goods and services price inflation is sustainably retreating before considering reducing the policy rate further, provided labor market […]
Fed’s Barr: No interest rate cuts until inflation is tamed Read More »
Key insight: The Senate’s manager’s amendment, which added FHA multifamily loan limit reductions and an institutional investor cap on single-family homes, cost the legislation support from the Mortgage Bankers Association. What’s at stake: Community bank regulatory provisions championed by House Financial Services Committee Chairman French Hill were stripped from the Senate version, making it unlikely
Banks sour on Senate housing bill, but may not stop passage Read More »
Senator Josh Hawley, a Republican from Missouri, during a hearing on Wednesday, April 17, 2024. Photographer: Graeme Sloan/BloombergGraeme Sloan/Bloomberg A Republican senator launched a new investigation into the leading provider of mortgage borrower credit scores, reiterating prior criticism of a “monopoly” he says proves detrimental to aspiring home buyers. Processing Content Alongside his own investigation
Senator calls for FTC investigation into FICO score pricing Read More »
Part of a recent executive order from President Trump that calls for potential changes to the qualified mortgage definition and its safe harbor could increase competition for certain types of loans, depending on how and if it progresses. Processing Content Changes that the broader mortgage credit order calls for include having the Consumer Financial Protection
How Trump’s EO could redraw QM’s safe harbor lines Read More »
Enjoy complimentary access to top ideas and insights — selected by our editors.Want unlimited access to top ideas and insights? Subscribe Now Last week, Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte announced that the GSEs were rolling back roof insurance requirements for condo buildings to allow them to purchase actual cash value (ACV) policies instead
Pulte got the condo insurance call right Read More »
Key insight: Fed Gov. Stephen Miran said he is looking through the oil price shock and keeping his policy outlook unchanged, anticipating four 25 basis point cuts in 2026. Expert quote: “Looking 12 to 18 months out, there’s still not enough clarity to think that monetary policy itself should adjust in response to what’s happened.”
Fed’s Miran says oil shock unlikely to alter rate outlook yet Read More »
One of the targets of the Federal Housing Finance Agency’s mortgage fraud probes is dropping his lawsuit against the regulator and its leader. Processing Content Rep. Eric Swalwell, D-Calif., FHFA Director Bill Pulte and the agency itself have all agreed to voluntarily dismiss the lawmaker’s suit, according to a case filing Friday. The announcement did
Swalwell drops Pulte suit while FHFA fraud probes stall Read More »
The reproposal of bank capital rules for mortgages appears to deliver on earlier signals, including looser servicing asset rules, additional loan-to-value ratio distinctions and accommodations for credit enhancement. Processing Content But some fear there could be a catch in the small print of the new Basel III plan. “Capital rules are notoriously complex, but
Basel reproposal’s impact on non-bank mortgage lenders Read More »
Key Insight: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell acknowledged Wednesday that he may remain at the helm of the central bank past the end of his term because of delays in confirming his successor, and said he does not plan to leave while an investigation into him is ongoing. Expert quote: “I have no intention of
Fed Chair Powell to stay on until DOJ concludes probe Read More »
What’s at stake: The Trump administration is trying to weaken the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, the Fair Housing Act, the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act and the implementation of small business lending data collection, known as section 1071 under the Dodd Frank Act. Key insight: Lenders have long complained that the federal government should not be
How Trump is turning fair lending law on its head Read More »