Category: Top National News

American Banker, Sept. 25, 2018–Hannah Lang (subscription)But the timing of the hearing, as FHFA Director Mel Watt faces an employee’s allegations of sexual harassment, has led many to believe that the investigation of his alleged conduct will be a central component of the hearing. That was bolstered by revelations Wednesday that his accuser, Simone Grimes, had been invited by the committee to testify.

Orange County Register, Sept. 26, 2018–Jeff LazersonThe fast-paced, incredibly content-rich Digital Mortgage conference I attended earlier this week in Las Vegas can best be described as Shark Tank meets American Idol.

Mortgage Daily, Sept. 25, 2018Hundreds of positions in USAA’s real estate lending and rewards divisions are being eliminated. Affected employees work at locations in three states.

Mortgage Daily, Sept. 25, 2018loanDepot.com LLC and an appraisal management company have reached an agreement to settle claims that borrowers were discriminated against because their properties were located on Indian reservations.

CNBC, Sept. 24, 2018–Jeff CoxAction in the fed funds futures market this week indicates an 8 percent chance the Fed will approve a half-point interest rate hike this week. While there’s practically no chance of that happening, the trading indicates a market coming to grips with a more hawkish Fed.

Washington Post Writers Group, Sept. 24, 2018–Kenneth R. HarneyPrices are up, interest rates are rising, and it’s tough for a lot of people to qualify to buy a home. So what do some of them do? A growing number of them fake it.

National Real Estate Investor, Sept. 24, 2018–Bendix AndersonLow vacancy and prohibitive house prices give single-family rental tenants incentives to accept rent increases.

National Mortgage Profesional, Sept. 24, 2018–Phil HallFreddie Mac said total home sales–covering both new and existing properties–will decrease by 0.9 percent from 6.12 million in 2017 to 6.07 million this year, while single-family first-lien mortgage originations will drop by roughly 9 percent this year to $1.65 trillion and home price growth will moderate to 5.5 percent.

National Mortgage News, Sept. 24, 2018–Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)The return to financial stability at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac resolves a big problem from the past, but each government-sponsored enterprise must now turn to a task that will shape its future: picking a new CEO.

HousingWire, Sept. 24, 2018–Jeremmiah JensenNew study found that there are differing levels of affordability for certain groups of individuals.