Wall Street Journal, Feb. 4, 2019-Paul Kiernan (subscription)A growing minority of banks reported tightening their standards for some loans in the fourth quarter and said they expected loan demand and performance to weaken, the Federal Reserve said Monday.
Category: Top National News

Mr. Cooper Acquires Pacific Union Financial
HousingWire, Feb. 4, 2019–Ben LaneMr. Cooper, the nonbank formerly known as Nationstar Mortgage, has now finalized its acquisition of Pacific Union Financial.

HGTV Shows Like ‘Fixer Upper’ Spur Demand for Home Renovation Loans
National Mortgage News, Feb. 4, 2019–Paul Centopani (free article)Popular TV shows about house fixers and flippers have sparked consumer interest in remodeling, creating an opportunity for lenders to build a specialty in renovation loans while traditional mortgage lending is weak.

Mortgage Market Dynamics: Competition and Evolution
Journal for Structured Finance, Feb. 2019–Michael FratantoniMBA Chief Economist says lenders that can manage through today’s challenges while continuing to attract customers will be best-position to compete in the years ahead.

Republicans Want Mortgage Giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to be Private Companies Again
Washington Post, Feb. 1, 2019–Renae MerleA decade after Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac were placed under government control, a key Senate Republican on Friday proposed allowing them to return to being private companies.

Nonbank Mortgage Employment Hasn’t Been This Low Since 2016
National Mortgage News, Feb. 1, 2019-Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Nonbank mortgage companies cut payrolls by 3,100 full-time employees in December, bringing the level of hiring in the industry to its lowest point in more than two years.

Housing Finance Reforms Welcomed by Real Estate Industry
Mortgage Professional America, Feb. 4, 2019–Steve RandallProposals to overhaul the US housing finance system set out by Senator Mike Crapo Friday have been welcomed by several industry stakeholders.Among those who have welcomed the proposals is the Mortgage Bankers Association’s Robert D. Broeksmit, CMB, President and CEO.

CFPB Offers New FAQ for TRID Compliance
Naional Mortgage News, Feb. 1, 2019–Brad Finkelstein (subscription)The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has published a new “frequently asked questions” tool to help mortgage lenders with TILA-RESPA integrated disclosures compliance.

The 6 Most Expensive Rental Markets are All in California
HousingWire, Feb. 1, 2019–Kelsey RamirezWhile most of the top 10 cities remained flat, Santa Ana rejoined the ranks, giving California six of the top 10 cities, according to a monthly rental report from Zumper. It replaced Miami as the 10th most expensive city.

Construction Spending Up Slightly
National Mortgage Professional, Feb. 1, 2019–Phil HallConstruction spending during November was estimated at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $1.29 trillion, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau.