Politics and policy

Basel reproposal’s impact on non-bank mortgage lenders

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 […]

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Fed Chair Powell to stay on until DOJ concludes probe

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

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How Trump is turning fair lending law on its head

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

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CFPB cuts dull impact of Trump’s latest order, MBA exec says

While noting the upside to President Trump’s new executive order to expand home lending among community financial institutions, the Mortgage Bankers Association’s top executive added a note of caution, saying benefits won’t appear immediately. Processing Content In a wide-ranging interview at Intercontinental Exchange’s ICE Experience 2026 conference in Las Vegas on Tuesday, MBA President and

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FHFA plan renews its effort to grow counterparty oversight

The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s latest performance review plan emphasizes interest in having more power to review Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s business partners. Processing Content “Currently, US Federal Housing does not have statutory authority to oversee third-party service providers. These third-party relationships can potentially pose risks,” the agency — which Director Bill Pulte alternately

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Major GSE investor echoes Ackman’s call for Fannie, Freddie uplisting

Oksenholt Capital Management, an investor in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s stock, is echoing earlier calls by billionaire Bill Ackman for the government-sponsored enterprises’ shares to be moved back to a major exchange. Processing Content “In my view, the time has come for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to return to a major public exchange

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Iran scrambles inflation signals as Fed mulls interest rates

Key Insight: The U.S. involvement in the war with Iran has driven energy prices higher, a development economists say could add to inflation and reduce the likelihood of rate cuts this year. Expert quote: “I think the Fed is just going to sit on its hands quite happily because of what’s going on in Iran

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Mortgage deregulation: praise and peril from Trump’s EO

Mortgage industry professionals have raised some concerns amid the broader praise for President Trump’s executive order signed Friday, which aims to loosen mortgage lending regulations.   Processing Content Many of the rules the EO looks to unwind were put into effect by the Dodd-Frank Act, passed in the wake of the Great Financial Crisis and the

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Democratic AGs sue HUD over fair housing guidance

Key insight: A group of 16 state attorneys general, all Democrats, have filed suit against the Department of Housing and Urban Development over a recent guidance limiting enforcement of equal housing laws. Supporting data: The attorneys general say the guidance, which affects how HUD funds state investigations of discrimination complaints, threatens $10.7M in Fair Housing

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Trump building order targets supply-side constraints

A new federal executive order from President Trump related to “removing regulatory barriers to home construction” aims to increase affordable inventory through broad deregulation. Processing Content The Federal Housing Finance Agency and the Department of Housing and Urban Development are among several public entities the order directs to take a series of steps to that

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