The Tricky Calculus of Housing Finance Reform

National Mortgage News, June 27, 2017–Ian McKendry (subscription)The Senate is set to begin teeing up housing finance reform discussions at a Banking Committee hearing on Thursday, but many are skeptical that Congress will be able to succeed where it has failed in the past.

CFPB Fines Four California Credit Repair companies for Misleading Customers

HousingWire, June 27, 2017–Ben LanePrime Credit, IMC Capital, Commercial Credit Consultants and Park View Law, formerly known as Prime Law Experts, and several executives in charge of the various companies will pay more than $2 million for the alleged illegal actions.

Small Lenders and Affordable Housing Groups Issue GSE Reform Proposal

HousingWire, June 28, 2017–Brena SwansonSmall lender and affordable housing association groups worked together to create a joint release of GSE reform principles in order to ensure the safety of their respective members; the Mortgage Bankers Association earlier this year issued its own GSE reform white paper.

Senate Committee Takes First Steps in Making GSE Reform a Key Priority

HousingWire, June 29, 2017–Brena Swanson”Conservatorship of the GSEs has already persisted far longer than was ever intended. And while the Federal Housing Finance Agency has taken important administrative steps during this period, an extended conservatorship is economically and politically unsustainable,” MBA President and CEO David Stevens told the Senate Banking Committee.

GSE Reform Done Right Ensures a Level Playing Field for All

National Mortgage News, June 29, 2017–Hank Cunningham (subscription)The author, who served on the MBA Task Force on a Future Secondary Market, takes issue with investor views on GSE reform and urges the mortgage industry to unify behind common goals.

Here’s Why Small Lenders Should Support GSE Reform

HousingWire, June 29, 2017–Bill CosgroveFormer MBA chairman urges smaller lenders like him to reject notion that GSE reform is bad for them and says failure of Congress to act is their biggest threat.

Four Issues that Could Trip up Senate Housing Finance Bill

National Mortgage News, June 29, 2017–Ian McKendry (subscription)In a political atmosphere of intense partisan divisions, Republicans and Democrats on the Senate Banking Committee sounded on the same page about how to reform Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during a panel hearing on Thursday. (MBA mention)

Non-QM Is Not The New Subprime

Mortgage Daily, June 29, 2017A new report indicates residential lending to borrowers who don’t meet Qualified Mortgage rule requirements is not the same as pre-crisis subprime lending.