Key insight: Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said the central bank had been served subpoenas by the Department of Justice. Expert quote: “This is about whether the Fed will be able to continue to set interest rates based on evidence and economic conditions — or whether instead monetary policy will be directed by political pressure […]
Powell says DOJ served Fed subpoenas, threatened indictment Read More »
Tasos Katopodis/Photographer: Tasos Katopodis/Ge The Trump administration has more housing initiatives under consideration beyond recently-announced mortgage bond purchases and these reportedly may include an executive order aimed at expanding use of retirement and education savings accounts for home purchases. Processing Content “Stay tuned for the president’s speech in two weeks at Davos, I think you’ll
Trump weighs retirement, education funds for home buying Read More »
The average credit card user carries a balance of nearly $6,000, as Americans hold more debt than ever, a new industry report found. Processing Content Americans bear a record $1.21 trillion in credit card debt, as the median interest rate hit 25.3%, according to Academy Bank’s latest white paper. The trend could affect home loan
Card debt hits record amount as providers charge high rates Read More »
Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte was a driving force behind the Trump administration’s decision to subpoena the Federal Reserve, according to people familiar with the matter, intensifying pressure on the central bank as President Donald Trump prepares to pick a new Fed chief. Processing Content Some of Trump’s allies were alarmed by the
Bill Pulte seen as key instigator behind Powell subpoena Read More »
If it comes to fruition, President Trump’s call for a $200 billion purchase of mortgage-backed securities could further tighten MBS spreads in the near term. But with few details available, many market participants are skeptical about the longer-term impact. Processing Content In response to the president directing his representatives to purchase an equal amount of
Trump’s $200B MBS idea tightens spreads, raises doubts Read More »
President Trump’s plan to restrict institutional investor purchases of single-family homes through bipartisan legislation to promote consumer access to affordable housing does match a past goal pursued by Democrats but has many practical challenges, industry professionals said Thursday. Processing Content “Trying to crack this nut of the affordability issues that we have in this country
How Trump’s institutional investor homebuying ban could impact loans Read More »
Key insight: President Donald Trump said he would ban institutional investment in single-family homes, and called on Congress to codify the changes. What’s at stake: Banks are often financiers of institutional investments in single-family housing stock. Forward look: The White House doesn’t have unilateral power to ban institutional investors from purchasing single family homes, but
Trump backs ban on institutional buyers in housing market Read More »
Higher costs for credit reporting in the mortgage industry are drawing renewed criticism from a federal housing official as the new year gets underway. Processing Content “I do not know what the credit bureaus are doing with their pricing. They are inviting a lot of scrutiny and that is only intensifying by the day,” Federal
Credit reporting prices draw more ire from FHFA’s Pulte Read More »
Wall Street bulls need a lot to go right if 2026 is going to deliver a fourth straight year of double-digit returns. Trade tensions between the US and its neighbors remain high. The US economy is showing signs of sluggishness, interest rates are elevated even after three cuts and the artificial intelligence trade is far
Traders show no Venezuela angst but events foreshadow 2026 risks Read More »
Key Insight: Richmond Fed President Tom Barkin believes that as businesses gain confidence in the country’s robust economic demand and adjust to the new policy environment in Washington, hiring and investment should increase in the year ahead. Expert Quote: “Going forward, policy will require finely tuned judgments balancing progress on each side of our mandate.”
Fed’s Barkin optimistic about market uncertainty in 2026 Read More »