Category: Top National News

Chicago Tribune, Jan. 7, 2019–Kenneth HarneyWhen the government shuts its doors because of a funding brouhaha that pits the White House against Capitol Hill, who gets hit hardest among people needing a home mortgage? The latest version of federal breakdown made one fact painfully clear: It all depends on the type of loan you seek and where you’re located.

American Banker, Jan. 4, 2019–Hannah Lang (subscription)Although the partial government shutdown has not yet been long enough to significantly hamper the mortgage market, lenders and borrowers may already be feeling the strain.

National Mortgage News, Jan. 4, 2019–Paul Centopani (free story)As the government shutdown enters its third week, mortgage servicers are activating the response plans they normally use during hurricanes and wildfires to assist federal workers who may have trouble paying their mortgages.

American Banker, Jan. 6, 2019–Kevin Wack (subscription)Before the financial crisis, federal and state regulators unabashedly pitched their charters to banks as the better choice. Now regulatory competition is back, despite warnings that such jousting might result in lax oversight.

Bloomberg, Jan. 7, 2019–Prashant GopalJames Stack, who predicted the 2008 real estate crash and nailed last year’s housing slowdown with uncanny timing, is back with some bad news for 2019.

Bloomberg, Jan. 4, 2019–Jennifer A Dlouhy, Ari Natter, Alan LevinDecember and January are quiet months in the real estate industry, but “if this goes beyond another week, it’s going to delay closings,” said Pete Mills, senior vice president of policy at the Mortgage Bankers Association.

National Mortgage News, Jan. 3, 2019–Kate Berry (subscription)Kathy Kraninger, the director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, said in an email to staff that the bureau will “vigorously enforce the law,” but also must weigh the “costs and benefits to consumers” of enforcement activities and rulemakings.

Orange County Register (Calif.), Jan. 3, 2019–Jeff LazersonLet’s take a peek at the changing of the guard – that being the leadership at the Federal Housing Finance Agency or FHFA (Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s conservator and regulator), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (your mortgage police), Fannie and Freddie.

Dallas News, Jan. 4, 2019–Paul O’DonnellMr. Cooper Group Inc. is continuing to expand its mortgage servicing business with Thursday’s purchase of IBM’s Seterus platform.

HousingWire, Jan. 3, 2019–Jessica GuerinWhile some market analysts predict an uptick in 2019 home equity lending, Bank of America’s David Doyle thinks otherwise.