Category: Top National News

American Banker, Sept. 4, 2018–Kate Berry (subscription)Kathy Kraninger, a senior official at the Office of Management and Budget, was mostly tight-lipped about her plans for the agency at her July nomination hearing. But watchers saw clear signals of her interest in the agency’s budget as a focus, as well as in conducting cost-benefit analyses of all rulemakings.

American Banker, Sept. 4, 2018–Hannah Long (subscription)Under the proposal, Volcker Rule compliance would be revised, the rule would be tailored for institutions that participate in fewer trading activities and the definitions of certain prohibited trades would be altered.

Mortgage Daily, Sept. 4, 2018Monthly new business slipped at Fannie Mae. Loan performance on the secondary lender’s residential portfolio was the best in nearly 11 years.

Mortgage Daily, Sept. 4, 2018Securitizations of residential loans backed by Fannie Mae soared to a 19-month high, leading overall agency issuance higher.

Reuters, Aug. 31, 2018–Joy Wiltermuth, Natalie HarrisonCredit rating opinions on new types of residential mortgage bonds have become increasingly divided, making it harder for investors to gauge their risks.

National Mortgage News, Aug. 31, 2018–Kate Berry (subscription)The reg relief law, signed in May, exempts roughly 85% of banks and credit unions from reporting the expanded Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data points introduced for the 2018 reporting year. The mortgage industry lobbied heavily for the changes, particularly for an exemption from disclosures of all points and fees when a loan is originated.

American Banker, Sept. 3, 2018–Hannah Long (subscription)A decade later, nothing about the federal takeover of the mortgage giants seems temporary. It is the status quo. Efforts for comprehensive housing finance reform keep getting derailed, leaving many to wonder if it will take a disruptive event–a sudden change in political power, another crisis or something else–to force policymakers to set the GSEs on a permanent path forward.

Mortgage Daily, Aug. 31, 2018–Sam GarciaInvestors who acquire distressed home loans at a significant discount could raise the value of their investments with financial counselors who help borrowers increase their cash flow.

Mortgage Daily, Aug. 30, 2018The Mortgage Bankers Association presented the rankings as part of its Commercial/Multifamily Real Estate Mortgage Servicer Rankings Mid-Year 2018.

American Banker, Aug. 30, 2018–Rachel Witkowski (subscription)How to modernize the Community Reinvestment Act has long triggered intense debate and disagreement among all the parties as banks favor expanding CRA assessment areas and consumer groups worry that a broad expansion would simply make it easier for banks to score high CRA grades.