Will Mortgage Deduction Remain Sacred? GOP Candidates Float Change

Fox News, Jan. 20, 2016
When it comes to tax perks, the mortgage interest deduction is the third rail — typically, no one wants to touch it. But Republican presidential candidate Ben Carson is doing the politically unthinkable and openly talking about getting rid of homeowners’ favorite tax favor. And a handful of other candidates are at least talking about making tweaks to the system.

Rattled Investors Paying a Premium for Long-Term Treasurys

Wall Street Journal, Jan. 20, 2016–Zeng, Min
The global scramble to snap up safer assets intensified Wednesday, sending the yield on the 10-year U.S. Treasury note below 2% and restoring an unusual situation in which investors willingly pay more for longer-term bonds than for an equivalent series of shorter-term securities.

Are the CFPB and FTC Partners or Rivals?

National Mortgage News, Jan. 20, 2016–Witkowski, Rachel
Overlapping missions and jurisdictions are fueling competition between the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and the Federal Trade Commission, according to former officials at both agencies.

Indiana Takes Aim at Zombie Homes and Foreclosures

IndyStar (Indianapolis), Jan. 19, 2016–Eason, Brian
Lawmakers from two of the state’s hardest-hit housing markets–Gary and Indianapolis–have introduced four bills this session targeting urban blight, but those hoping for a major overhaul of Indiana’s distressed property laws will have to wait at least another year.

‘Too Big to Fail’ Banks Thriving a Few Years After Financial Crisis

New York Times, Jan. 22, 2016–Cohan, William D.
These days, the “too big to fail” banks have less competition than ever, they get their raw material – cash from depositors – nearly free and they have never had more ways to make vast amounts of money.

CFPB’s ‘To Do’ List Grows as Election Looms

BloombergBNA, Jan. 25, 2016–Bater, Jeff (Banking Daily)
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is running out of time before the 2016 election could bring a possible change in direction–or an entirely new structure should Republicans take the White House.

Citizen CEO on How TRID Blocked Its Progress

HousingWire, Jan. 25, 2016–Swanson, Brena
Originally, Citizens Financial Group planned to add 350 mortgage lenders, giving it a total of 700, by the end of 2016. But the goal failed to fully account for the impact of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures rule that went into effect in October.

J.P. Morgan to Pay $1.42 Billion to Settle Most Lehman Claims

Wall Street Journal, Jan. 25, 2016–Fitzgerald, Patrick
J.P. Morgan Chase & Co. has agreed to pay the remnants of Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. $1.42 billion in cash to settle most of the failed investment bank’s lawsuit over claims that J.P. Morgan illegally siphoned billions of dollars from Lehman before its collapse.