Category: Top National News

Mortgage Orb, Sept. 28, 2017–Peter G. MillerThe Internet, media reports and congressional testimony are always rife with rumors and tall tales. But what about the claim that government regulations increase the cost of new home construction by 25%?

UExpress, Sept. 29, 2017–Lew SichelmanAccording to a survey of its members by the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, customers are asking the wrong questions.

CNBC, Sept. 29, 2017–Matthew Belvedere Billionaire Quicken Loans founder and Chairman Dan Gilbert said Friday that people don’t buy homes because of the mortgage interest deduction, echoing a comment from Trump economic advisor Gary Cohn about the GOP tax overhaul.

National Real Estate Investor, Sept. 29, 2017–Patricia Kirk A little over two weeks after Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida, it’s business as usual for commercial real estate brokers on the ground.

Wall Street Journal, Sept. 29, 2017–Michael C. Bender (subscription)President Donald Trump and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin met with former Federal Reserve governor Kevin Warsh on Thursday to discuss his potential nomination as the next Fed chairman, a White House official said, signaling that the West Wing is moving ahead with a process that the president has said he would like to have completed by the end of the year.

National Mortgage Professional, Sept. 29, 2017–Phil HallA shrinking inventory is being blamed for the stagnation in the latest Redfin Housing Demand Index, which barely inched up from 126 in July to 127 in August. On a year-over-year basis, however, the index was up 27.7 percent.

National Mortgage News, Sept. 29, 2017–Brad Finkelstein (subscription)Mortgage lenders took on more risk in the second quarter as the share of loans to real estate investors and condominium owners increased, according to CoreLogic.

HousingWire, Sept. 29, 2017–Brena SwansonThe Office of the Comptroller of the Currency noted the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau said analysts were unable to identify any evidence from the data to indicate companies that removed their arbitration agreements raised their prices.

American Action Forum, Sept. 29, 2017–Douglas Holtz-EakinThe author states: “It is far past time for Congress to take on housing finance reform. It is a truly bipartisan issue, has large consequences for the growth of the economy and welfare of the middle class, and thus should be at the top of the policy agenda.”

Reuters, Sept. 29, 2017–David Henry, Ross KerberU.S. lenders are concerned their consumer loan and credit card businesses could be stymied if large numbers of people lock or freeze their credit reports to protect themselves in the wake of the Equifax Inc. hack.