The U.S. Department of Labor has proposed a rule that would make it easier for retirement plan sponsors to include alternative investments — such as private equity, private credit, real estate and cryptocurrency — in workers’ 401(k) plans while reducing regulatory burdens and the threat of lawsuits. The rule aims to carry out goals that […]
Labor department rule would ease path for riskier 401(k) investments Read More »
Key insight: The White House issued an executive order directing the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and bank regulators to tailor mortgage rules for community banks. What’s at stake: The move is part of a broader Republican strategy to shore up its credibility around housing affordability ahead of the 2026 midterms, and comes as a bipartisan
White House order to increase small bank mortgage lending Read More »
Key insight: The package includes measures that had already been considered by the committee, including a bill on brokered and custodial deposits and a number of measures aimed at relaxing oversight, particularly for community banks. What’s at stake: The package is opposed by some Democrats, who argue the bill favors large banks as well as
House committee passes bank deregulatory package Read More »
A recent op-ed argues that President Donald Trump’s proposal to expand access to 401(k)-style retirement plans could become a meaningful step toward a universal savings system — but only if it goes further than currently outlined. Karl Polzer, founder of the Center on Capital and Social Equity, wrote that roughly half of American workers lack
Trump 401(k) plan, if expanded, could advance universal retirement Read More »
Key insight: President Donald Trump urged Congress to pass legislation restricting institutional investors purchasing single family homes, following up on his executive order that the legislature would need to codify. What’s at stake: Banks generally favor rhetoric that promotes housing availability and funding, since it helps produce more mortgages, but the institutional investor rhetoric is
Trump talks housing, affordability at State of the Union Read More »
The Supreme Court on Friday ruled in a 6-3 decision that President Donald Trump overstepped his authority by imposing sweeping tariffs under a federal law intended for national emergencies, a decision that marks a rare defeat for the administration at the high court, which holds a 6-3 conservative majority. The court found that Trump’s use
Trump’s tariffs overturned by Supreme Court in 6-3 decision Read More »
For months, some affluent New Yorkers warned they would leave if progressive policies took hold at City Hall. With Zohran Mamdani now mayor and debate intensifying over a possible city wealth tax or property tax increase, early market data shows no sign of a luxury exodus. Instead, Manhattan’s top tier appears to be accelerating. HousingWire
Manhattan luxury market stable under Mamdani Read More »
FirstHome IQ, a nonprofit focused on first-time homebuyer education and financial literacy, announced Thursday that it’s teaming up with the Mortgage Bankers Association to bring a coalition of loan officers to Washington, D.C., for the MBA’s National Advocacy Conference in April. The initiative aims to have at least one LO from every state advocating together
FirstHome IQ, MBA partner on loan officer advocacy on Capitol Hill Read More »
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 »
Key insight: WomenVenture, a Minneapolis-based Community Development Financial Institution, has assisted 108 small businesses seeking emergency assistance as federal immigration enforcement operations strain revenues and workforces across Minnesota. Forward look: The organization is establishing an emergency rapid response fund with other Minnesota CDFIs and community foundations, while navigating uncertainty around the CDFI Fund, which provides
How one CDFI is navigating the chaos in Minneapolis Read More »