The Lede

The Union of Concerned Scientists said climate change is putting coastal communities at huge risk--to the tune of more than $1 trillion.

The Mortgage Bankers Association, in a letter last week to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, urged the Bureau to develop, propose, and adopt standards and requirements to govern its own provision of rules and guidance--in essence, a "rule on rules."

The Federal Housing Finance Agency yesterday issued a proposed rule on capital requirements for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which would implement a new framework for risk-based capital requirements and a revised minimum leverage capital requirement for the government-sponsored enterprises.

National Mortgage News, June 18, 2018--Kate Berry (subscription)President Trump' choice of Kathy Kraninger to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is already in trouble--and that may be just fine with the White House.

Wall Street Journal, June 19, 2018--Yuka Hayashi (subscription)Mick Mulvaney could be around for a while as the acting chief of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, despite the Trump administration's move to nominate a permanent successor.

ReverseMortgageDaily, June 18, 2018--Alex SpankoA bill introduced by Rep. Maxine Waters on Monday would bring greater oversight to servicers of single-family home loans, in response to what the California Democrat has called "bad behavior" from players in the industry.

National Mortgage News, June 18, 2018--Hannah Lang (subscription)HUD believes that a "critical element" of housing finance reform is the need to modernize the risk management and technology platforms at the Federal Housing Administration, said Adolfo Marzol, a top HUD official.

National Mortgage News, June 15, 2018--Elina Tarkazikis (subscription)Regulation, on average, imposed by all levels of government accounts for 32% of multifamily development costs, according to the National Association of Home Builders and the National Multi Housing Council.

Mortgage Daily, June 15, 2018Unpaid principal balance of Ginnie Mae mortgage-backed securities was $1.9597 trillion as of May 31.

National Mortgage News, June 15, 2018--Hannah Long (subscription)As with anything in housing finance reform, analyzing a proposed capital framework for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac starts with these massive caveats: the government-sponsored enterprises are still in conservatorship, and long-term reform is still way out of reach.

National Mortgage Professional, June 14, 2018--Phil HallThe delinquency rates for commercial and multifamily mortgage loans were virtually unchanged from the fourth quarter of last year to the first quarter of this year, the according to the latest Commercial/Multifamily Delinquency Report issued by the Mortgage Bankers Association.

Wall Street Journal, June 14, 2018--Ryan Tracy (subscription)Comptroller of the Currency Joseph Otting told the Senate Banking Committee said his review of low-income lending rules won't undermine curbs on bias in banking, as he tried to walk back an earlier statement that he hasn't "personally observed" discrimination.

National Mortgage News, June 14, 2018--Kate Berry (subscription)Acting Consumer Financial Protection Bureau Director Mick Mulvaney hasn't said yet whether he will keep public consumer complaints about banks, credit unions and other financial firms, but a former Ohio attorney general is gearing up just in case.

Wall Street Journal, June 15, 2018--Laura Saunders (subscription)For years, Americans could borrow against their homes to pay for a new car, college tuition, or even a trip to the Caribbean, and then deduct the interest on those loans. No more.

HousingWire, June 14, 2018--Kelsey RamirezHigher risk borrowers are growing more bold about applying for a mortgage, however it may not do them much good.

Mortgage Daily, June 14, 2018Primary home lenders refinanced 104,863 Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac loans during April, according to a report from the two firms' regulator and conservator, the Federal Housing Finance Agency, the slowest month on record for GSE refinances.

MarketWatch, June 12, 2018--Andrea RiquierThe Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday announced that Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc. will pay more than $15 million to settle charges that its employees misled customers, causing them to overpay for residential mortgage-backed securities.

American Banker, June 12, 2018--Rachel Witkowski (subscription)The Treasury Department is expected to strike a middle path in upcoming recommendations on regulating the fintech sector, laying out how fintech oversight could be incorporated in existing rules without creation of an entirely new regulatory framework.

Wall Street Journal, June 12, 2018--Esther Fung (subscription)The mergers-and-acquisition bug has hit the real-estate investment trust industry, the long-anticipated result of the discounts that REIT stocks have been trading at compared with the private-market valuations of their properties.