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December 2025

Sweeping new zoning targets Nashville housing affordability

Policy, The Builder's Daily /

Nashville, one of the fastest-growing Sun Belt cities over the past decade, has been working to address the housing affordability issues that accompanied its massive economic development. Confronted with a shortage of nearly 90,000 homes, the Nashville Metro Council made its most significant move since 2018 to shape the city’s future. It passed two groundbreaking […]

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ROAD to Housing Act dropped from NDAA, sparking trade group response

Community Home Lenders of America, Congress, House of Representatives, HWmember, Legislation, LendingLife, Mortgage, Mortgage Bankers Association /

The ROAD to Housing Act was left out of the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) in the final House text released Sunday, leaving the mortgage industry to continue pushing for housing provisions into the first quarter of next year.  The bipartisan bill — which includes policies to address housing affordability, boost supply, modernize financing

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MBA voices support for proposed cut to community banks’ leverage ratio

Community Bank, Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Federal Reserve, HWmember, Mortgage, Mortgage Bankers Association, Office of the Comptroller of the Currency, Regulatory, Regulatory Compliance /

Late last month, federal banking regulators proposed lowering the Community Bank Leverage Ratio (CBLR) for qualifying community banks and bank holding companies from 9% to 8% while extending the timeframe for certain banks to remain in the program. The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), the Federal Reserve and the Federal Deposit Insurance

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Buyer owes $24K after breaching buyers broker agreement, arbitration finds

Brokerage, Commission Lawsuit, Florida, Florida Realtors, HWmember, Legal, NAR Lawsuit Settlement, Real Estate /

Since the implementation of mandatory buyer broker agreements via the business practice changes outlined in the National Association of Realtors’ (NAR) commission lawsuit settlement agreement, many have wondered what happens if a buyer breaches a contract.  Jeff Lichtenstein, the broker-owner of Florida-based Echo Fine Properties, found out when his firm entered into arbitration with a

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After another lapse in coverage, trade groups urge Congress to pass long-term NFIP bill

ALTA, American Bankers Association, Congress, Flood insurance, HWmember, Legislation, Mortgage, Mortgage Bankers Association, National Flood Insurance Program /

Last week, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) and 14 other trade groups representing insurance companies, lenders and other financial institutions urged Congress to approve a long-term reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP). In a letter to congressional leaders dated Dec. 2, the organizations said that millions of U.S. homeowners depend on the federally

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US treasury yields hit multimonth highs as focus shifts to Fed

Mortgage Rates, Treasury bonds, Treasurys /

Treasury yields climbed to the highest in more than two months, following losses in most global government-bond markets, ahead of a Federal Reserve interest-rate decision that may alter expectations for monetary policy in 2026. US yields rose from 2 to 3 basis points across the curve, with intermediate maturities proving the weakest. The market trimmed

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Milliman buys Morvest in deal that deepens MSR expertise

Capital markets, M&A, Secondary markets, Servicing /

Milliman has acquired Morvest Capital, expanding the global consulting and actuarial firm’s reach in a specialized corner of the housing finance market. The company is adding a mortgage servicing rights analytics and risk-management provider through the transaction. Milliman did not disclose terms in its announcement. “This acquisition accelerates our growth in the mortgage sector and

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Jefferies expands credit reach with Hildene stake

Annuities, M&A, Secondary markets, Securitization /

Jeffries Financial Group is purchasing a 50% stake in the parent company of Hildene Capital Management, which has a secondary market/securitization arrangement with Crosscountry Mortgage. Concurrent with this transaction, Hildene Capital Management is acquiring the holding company for SILAC Insurance, a provider of fixed and fixed indexed annuities for $550 million in cash. Compensation for

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Supreme Court doubtful on validity of independent agencies

Federal Reserve, Litigation, Monetary policy, Politics and policy, Regulation and compliance, Trump administration /

Key takeaway: A majority of Supreme Court Justices appeared willing to undo a nearly century-old precedent underpinning the notion of independent regulatory agencies. Expert quote: “Humphrey’s must be overruled. It has become a decaying husk with bold and particularly dangerous pretensions. It was grievously wrong when decided and cases [in recent years] have thoroughly eroded

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