Category: Top National News

American Banker, Dec. 12, 2018–Rachel Witkowski (subscription)Mortgages held by national banks has diminished by nearly half since the financial crisis, to $3.26 trillion in the third quarter, according to a report by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

The Mortgage Leader, Dec. 12, 2018Lenders pessimistic about their ability to generate profits has fallen to an all-time low.According to Fannie Mae’s Q4 2018 Mortgage Lender Sentiment Survey, the outlook for profit among lenders established a low across all loan types-GSE-eligible, non-GSE-eligible and government.

Real Crowd Podcast, Dec. 12, 2018–Tyler StewartMortgage Bankers Association Vice President of Research and Economics Jamie Woodwell joined the RealCrowd podcast to discuss the current state of the economy and what to look for as we head into 2019.

Marketplace, Dec. 12, 2018–Amy ScottThe 30-year mortgage is by far the most popular home loan in the country, making up almost 90 percent of new applications. That’s partly because Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac provide a steady stream of funding for those loans. But not everyone is a fan.

National Mortgage Professional, Dec. 12, 2018–Phil HallSingle women own 22 percent of U.S. homes, compared to the 13 percent share owned by single men, according to new data from LendingTree.

HousingWire, Dec. 12, 2018–Ben LaneThere’s a new unicorn in the fintech space, as Plaid announced this week that it raised $250 million in its Series C funding round at a reported valuation of $2.65 billion.

American Banker, Dec. 12, 2018–John Reosti (subscription)A controversial accounting standard is facing strong resistance in the House Financial Services Committee that will likely intensify when Democrats gain control of the panel.

HousingWire, Dec. 11, 2018–Kelsey RamirezIn fact, since the elections, experts have speculated what changes would come to the finance industry with Waters as chair. Mortgage Bankers Association Chief Lobbyist Bill Killmer told HousingWire there will be an emphasis on issues ranging from consumer protection, affordable housing and more.

National Mortgage News, Dec. 11, 2018–Neil Haggerty (subscription)Kathy Kraninger’s first public remarks Tuesday as the new head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau struck a more moderate tone than that of her predecessor, acting Director Mick Mulvaney, who at times questioned the role of the agency he was chosen to lead.

Bloomberg, Dec. 11, 2018–Prashant GopalDesperate to boost sales, U.S. homebuilders are turning to the last resort: cutting prices. Forty-one percent of builders reduced prices from late July through early October, up from 26 percent a year earlier.