Regulatory

Basel capital rules may be revised to boost bank mortgage lending

Michelle Bowman, the Federal Reserve‘s vice chair for supervision, used a major industry forum to argue that Basel capital rules have helped to drive mortgage lending and servicing away from banks — and that it’s time to reconsider that approach. Addressing the American Bankers Association (ABA)’s 2026 Conference for Community Bankers on Monday, Bowman described […]

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Zillow and Redfin ordered to produce documents in $100M rental syndication antitrust case

Zillow and Redfin must turn over documents related to their $100 million rental syndication agreement, according to a court order issued on Thursday in the antitrust lawsuit filed by state and federal regulators.  On Thursday, Judge William Porter ruled that the defendants must comply with the document production requests issued by the Federal Trade Commission

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OCC escrow plan opposed by regulators, consumer advocates

State regulators and consumer advocates are pushing back against two proposals from the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) that would expand banks’ authority over escrow accounts and assert that federal law preempts state rules that govern these accounts.  In a joint letter, the Conference of State Bank Supervisors (CSBS) and the American

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TikTok forms US entity, easing social media marketing concerns for mortgage pros

TikTok has finalized a deal to form a new U.S. entity with investors that include Oracle, Silver Lake and Emirati firm MGX, easing the threat of a nationwide ban and allowing the social media app to continue operating for more than 200 million American users. The company said Thursday that the new TikTok U.S. joint

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FHFA reports clean GAO audit for fiscal year 2025

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA)’s annual Performance and Accountability Report was published on Friday, revealing that the agency received clean audit results for fiscal year 2025 from the Government Accountability Office (GAO). The report disclosed that the GAO did not find any “material weaknesses or unacceptable risks.” The FHFA received an unmodified audit opinion

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Trade groups urge White House to lower FHA premiums, ease loan fees

Multiple mortgage lending trade groups are urging the White House to take administrative steps to lower the costs of home loans, arguing that federal regulations have driven up borrowing expenses as affordability worsens. In a letter sent Wednesday to White House National Economic Council Director Kevin Hassett, the Mortgage Bankers Association, America’s Credit Unions and

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Trump to outline housing affordability proposals at Davos

Housing industry participants will closely watch President Donald Trump in Davos, where he is expected to outline measures aimed at improving housing affordability. His speech is expected for Wednesday. Potential initiatives include ideas Trump has already floated on social media, such as encouraging Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to expand their purchases of mortgage-backed securities

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How MLK’s Fight for Homeownership Equality Changed My Life

As we prepare to celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day, it’s important to pause and reflect not only on Dr. King’s national legacy, but also on the work he did in my hometown of Chicago that continues to shape lives, opportunities and generational progress today. Dr. King’s Chicago campaign and the fight for fair housing

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DOJ investigation clouds future of Fed chair nomination

The future of the Federal Reserve‘s leadership is in limbo due to an investigation into current Fed Chair Jerome Powell that has prompted bipartisan backlash. Following the news about a Department of Justice (DOJ) probe into Powell, Sens. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.) and Elizabeth Warren of (D-Mass.) accused Trump of using the DOJ to pressure Powell

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NAMB urges FHA to end lifetime mortgage insurance rule

The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) is urging the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) to end its “life of loan” mortgage insurance rule and let borrowers cancel premiums once they’ve paid down their loan to 78% of their home’s value. NAMB believes the policy is outdated and unfair. Current rules mean that many FHA borrowers

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