Key insight: Bank enforcement actions fell by 55% during the first year of the Trump administration, according to data compiled by financial advisory firm Klaros. Supporting data: Klaros’ analysis shows that agencies issued 20 enforcement actions in the first quarter of 2025, but reduced that number to two by the fourth quarter. Terminated enforcement actions, […]
Enforcement is down under Trump. Is that a problem? Read More »
Movement on plans for an offering of shares from government-sponsored enterprises Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is likely to be tabled until after the midterm elections, according to a Wedbush report. Processing Content “The only discussion we are expecting from the administration regarding these two until after the midterms, if at all, is around the
Fannie, Freddie share sale likely after midterms or later Read More »
Florida-based real estate firm MV Realty sees a potential new legal challenge even after settling another of the numerous lawsuits that accuse it of predatory entrapment in regards to its controversial homeowner benefit agreement program. Processing Content Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Joy Campbell announced her office reached an agreement with the firm, issuing a $2.25
MV Realty settles NTRAP suit, but more legal woes loom Read More »
The Senate this morning passed a version of the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, earning generally positive reviews from the mortgage industry, though some trade groups raised concerns about what the bill includes and what needs to be changed. Processing Content Passage of the bill was overwhelming with 89 votes in favor to just
Mortgage groups split after Senate passes housing bill Read More »
The Mortgage Bankers Association has called for Department of Veterans Affairs policymakers to match the new partial claim more closely to borrower options offered in other parts of the market. Processing Content “As drafted, veterans will continue to have worse options than similarly situated non-veterans,” Pete Mills, MBA’s senior vice president of residential policy and
Mortgage bankers want VA’s partial claim aligned with market Read More »
Key insight: The Senate passed housing legislation by a wide bipartisan margin, but the House is less likely to do so. What’s at stake: The Mortgage Bankers Association has complained that a “drafting error” in a section of the bill prohibiting investment companies from buying single-family homes would reduce the construction of multifamily housing. Forward
Housing bill passes Senate, but window of opportunity narrows Read More »
Mortgage rates zoomed up 11 basis points this week as the Iran war wreaked havoc on oil prices, putting both the bond and equity markets in turmoil. Processing Content The 30-year fixed-rate mortgage averaged 6.11% on March 12, the Freddie Mac Primary Mortgage Market Survey reported. This compared with last week’s 6% and a year
Iran war pushes mortgage rates near yearly high Read More »
Key Insight: Federal Reserve Vice Chair for Supervision Michelle Bowman highlighted upcoming changes to the global systemically important bank surcharge and Basel III endgame implementation rule, which primarily focus on adjusting input parameters and certain risk weighting mechanisms rather than overall capital levels. Expert quote: “These changes to the capital framework eliminate overlapping requirements, right-size
Fed’s Bowman previews streamlined capital framework Read More »
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is still impacting the mortgage industry, despite a lack of examinations or investigations and the threat of a mass firing. The regulator under Acting Director Russell Vought has continued to provide regulatory guidance to financial institutions, and even defended some actions put forth by the prior Chopra-led bureau. Richard Horn,
Former CFPB counsel: Agency is doing more than you think Read More »
Key insight: Comptroller Jonathan Gould referenced the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency’s founding by Abraham Lincoln as the basis for federal preemption policy. Forward look: He said the OCC will continue to file briefs with federal courts on the subject so that there will be a robust record to shore up the agency’s
OCC’s Gould doubles down on state preemption Read More »