Bloomberg, Dec. 19, 2019–Emily BarrettThe U.S. Treasury yield curve reached its steepest point in over a year Thursday amid an improving growth outlook that’s boosted investors’ inflation expectations in recent …
Category: Top National News
SALT Relief: House Votes to Kill Cap on Property Tax Deductions
HousingWire, Dec. 19, 2019–Kathleen HowleyThe bill, HR 5377, passed Thursday by a 227-196 vote. It nixes the provision in the 2017 Republican tax bill that set a $10,000 cap on …
Will New Granny Flat Laws Ruin Nice Neighborhoods?
Whittier Daily News (Calif.), Dec. 19, 2019–Jeff LazersonMost stakeholders will likely experience an upside from the new California build-it-just-about- anywhere on your lot “accessory dwelling unit” law that starts Jan. …
Will 2020 Be a Good Time to Buy a House? Here’s What the Experts Say
MarketWatch, Dec. 19, 2019–Jacob PassyFannie Mae and the Mortgage Bankers Association expect housing activity including sales and new construction to drop year-over-year during the first quarter of 2019 in response …
Mortgage Rates are Flat Heading into the Holiday Week
Washington Post, Dec. 19, 2019–Kathy OrtonAccording to the latest data released Thursday by Freddie Mac, the 30-year fixed-rate average was unchanged at 3.73 percent with an average 0.7 point. It …
Three Reasons We Still Build Like It’s 1900
Urban Institute, Dec. 19, 2019–John WalshThe author says the home building industry remains reliant on the traditional, site-built construction process that was in place at the beginning of the 20th …
Four Ways for Mortgage Women to Take a Stand in 2020
National Mortgage News, Dec. 19, 2019–Marcia DaviesMBA COO and mPower co-founder Marcia Davies says the most exciting thing happening in mortgage finance today “has everything to do with more women …
Warren, Brown Call on GAO to Investigage CFPB’s Fair Lending Oversight
American Banker, Dec. 18, 2019–Kate Berry (subscription)Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, are asking the Government Accountability Office to open an investigation into the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s …
Trade Groups File Brief in CFPB SCOTUS Case
National Mortgage Professional, Dec. 18, 2019–Phil HallThe trade groups–-the Mortgage Bankers Association, the National Association of Home Builders and the National Association of Realtors–used their amici brief to support the …
Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac Set New Date for Use of New Uniform Residential Loan Application
HousingWire, Dec. 18, 2019–Ben LaneAccording to the GSEs, lenders will now be required to begin using the new URLA by Nov. 1, 2020. (MBA mention)https://www.housingwire.com/articles/fannie-mae-freddie-mac-set-new-date-for-use-of-new-uniform-residential-loan-application/