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 […]
Fed Chair Powell to stay on until DOJ concludes probe Read More »
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
How Trump is turning fair lending law on its head Read More »
“Just when I think things are falling in place, another wild card arrives,” Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) president and CEO Bob Broeksmit said Tuesday morning at ICE Experience’s X26 annual mortgage conference. In a conversation with ICE Mortgage Technology President Bob Hart that spanned recent executive orders, mergers and acquisitions, and artificial intelligence, Broeksmit admitted
MBA’s Broeksmit on Trump orders, AI and mortgage affordability at ICE X26 Read More »
Mortgage rates saw moderate increases in the past week as global economic uncertainty around the U.S.-Iran conflict continues, putting a damper on what was previously expected to be a brisk spring homebuying season. Mortgage News Daily reported Friday that 30-year fixed rates spiked to a seven-month high point of 6.41% before retreating to 6.36% on
Mortgage rates rise amid U.S.-Iran uncertainty Read More »
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
Democratic AGs sue HUD over fair housing guidance Read More »
Key insight: The court declared that Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Russell Vought’s decision not to request funding for the agency was a “transparent display of partisanship” and granted summary judgment to Rise Economy, a consumer advocacy group that had sued the CFPB over the decision. What’s at stake: The judge rejected the CFPB’s novel
Federal court rules against CFPB in funding lawsuit Read More »
President Donald Trump on Friday announced two executive orders that aim to increase the U.S. housing supply and consumer access to mortgage credit. One of the orders directs various federal agencies — including the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) — to work together on reviewing
Trump executive orders target housing supply and mortgage credit Read More »
In the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, overwhelmingly approved by the Senate on Thursday, is a provision titled, “Homes Are for People, Not Corporations.” This provision seeks to impose new restrictions on institutional investors in the single-family housing market. Under the provision, entities owning 350 or more single-family homes would face limits on purchasing
Realtor.com data challenges effectiveness of Senate ban on big home investors Read More »
Key insight: Bank enforcement actions fell by 55% during the first year of the Trump administration, according to data compiled by financial advisory firm Klaros. Supporting data: Klaros’ analysis shows that agencies issued 20 enforcement actions in the first quarter of 2025, but reduced that number to two by the fourth quarter. Terminated enforcement actions,
Enforcement is down under Trump. Is that a problem? 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 »