Urban Institute, Feb. 4, 2020–Sarah Strochak, Laurie Goodman, Sheryl PardoThe black homeownership rate increased from 40.6 percent in Q2 to 42.7 percent in Q3 to 44.0 percent in Q4. This …
Category: Top National News

Home-Loan Banks May Soon Channel Funds to More Mortgage Players
Wall Street Journal, Feb. 4, 2020–Andrew AckermanRegulator are weighing letting the Federal Home Loan Banks, a $1.1 trillion network of government-chartered cooperatives founded to support community lenders, expand to nonbank …

Refinancing Your Home to Save Big This Year
NBC Washington, Feb. 3, 2020–Juliana ValenciaMortgage rates recently fell to lows not seen since 2016. MBA Associate Vice President Joel Kan discussed who can benefit by refinancing their home. https://www.nbcwashington.com/news/refinancing-your-home-to-save-big-this-year/2208719/

FHFA Names Advisor for Massive IPO of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac
HousingWire, Feb. 3, 2020–Kathleen HowleyThe Federal Housing Finance Agency said on Monday Houlihan Lokey Capital will create a “roadmap” that will include business and capital structures, market impacts and timing …

HUD Seeks New Rule on Manufactured Housing
National Mortgage Professional, Feb. 3, 2020–Phil HallIn an effort to expand the available stock of affordable housing options, HUD issued a proposed rule to revise the federal Manufactured Home Construction …

Tearing Up CFPB’s Mortgage Underwriting Rule is the Easy Part
American Banker, Feb. 2, 2020–Kate Berry (subscription) ow that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has vowed to remove an unpopular measure of loan affordability in its mortgage underwriting rule, the …

To Unleash Housing Supply, Allow and Finance Accessory Dwelling Units
Urban Institute, Feb. 3, 2020–Laurie Goodman, Solomon GreenCommunities are rethinking their zoning laws to meet growing demand and improve affordability. But without innovation in financing, zoning reforms are unlikely to …

Looser Underwriting Will Lead to Higher Prime Jumbo Defaults: Moody’s
National Mortgage News, Feb. 3, 2020–Brad FinkelsteinDefault rates for prime jumbo mortgages will increase, but a strong economy and rising home prices will bail most borrowers and lenders out, Moody’s …

Banks Expect Tighter Lending Standards, Weaker Loan Performance in 2020
Wall Street Journal, Feb. 3, 2020–David HarrisonBanks expect to tighten lending standards and to see loan performance weaken this year, according to a new Federal Reserve Survey. (subscription)https://www.wsj.com/articles/banks-expect-tighter-lending-standards-weaker-loan-performance-in-2020-11580761195?

California’s Big Housing Bill Fell Short. A Push for Backyard Cottages is Moving Ahead
San Francisco Chronicle, Feb. 3, 2020Last Thursday’s defeat of SB50, the state Senate bill that would have required cities to allow dense residential development near transit, shows housing policy can …