MBA Newslinks Archive

“The bill marks years’ worth of work by a group of bipartisan Senators and parallel and focused advocacy by the legislative and policy teams at MBA…I want to commend the House of Representatives for joining the Senate and passing this bill which will protect consumers and provide greater access to mortgage credit.”–MBA President and CEO David Stevens, CMB, on House passage of S. 2155, a broad regulatory relief bill.

“All of us have to work together–mortgage bankers, realtors, home builders–to create meaningful change. We don’t have to worry about people wanting to own a home–they do.”–MBA President & CEO David Stevens, CMB, speaking at the MBA National Secondary Market Conference & Expo in New York.

“Despite rising prices and low inventory, sales in 2018 so far are slightly higher than last year, which was the best year on record since the 2006 housing boom. As we enter peak home buying season, new listings will be key in maintaining sales growth and moderating the rapid price increases we’ve seen this year.”–Redfin Chief Economist Nela Richardson.

“This is a pivotal time with rising prices and rates weighing heavily on consumers. Flat to declining home sales volume indicates sellers and buyers are not exactly jumping in with both feet. More of them could be moved off the sidelines if perceived security and confidence in home buying could be restored.” –Joe Melendez, Founder & CEO of ValueInsured, Dallas.

“The strong economy, low unemployment rate, tax refunds and bonuses and home price appreciation were key factors that helped push delinquencies down in the first quarter.”–MBA Vice President of Industry Analysis Marina Walsh.

“Treasury rates increased very slightly over the week, as the general sentiment was that inflation in April was not as strong as expected, despite a solid economic outlook.” –MBA Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting Joel Kan.

“2017 was the worst year on record for economic losses, both insured and uninsured, arising from natural disasters, led by losses from hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. With the 2018 hurricane season fast approaching, we wanted to support disaster preparedness and provide information necessary to help homeowners successfully recover from future disasters.” –MBA President and CEO David Stevens, CMB, announcing release of an MBA-sponsored disaster recovery guide.

“The [Telephone Consumer Protection Act] landscape is dysfunctional and in need of clarity from the FCC. The statute, originally intended to target a specific abusive telemarketing practice, has been expanded by courts and the FCC, turning it into a breeding ground for frivolous lawsuits against legitimate businesses trying to communicate with their customers. As a result, TCPA litigation has skyrocketed, harming businesses large and small, with no clear benefit to consumers.”–From a petition signed by 17 business and trade groups (including the Mortgage Bankers Association) urging changes to the Telephone Consumer Protection Act.

“Millennials reflect the choices made by those with lower annual household income and those living in urban areas, and show that they are a generation still grappling with the effects of the recession while trying to enter the housing market.”–Trulia Data Analyst Alexandra Lee.

“Despite a strong economy and job market, the decrease in April was likely due to a combination of rising mortgage rates and slow new construction activity, as builders still face a shortage of skilled labor and increasing materials costs, among other challenges.” –Joel Kan, MBA Associate Vice President of Economic and Industry Forecasting.