The Lede

An analysis by Climate Central, Princeton, N.J., and Zillow, Seattle, shows nearly 20,000 homes built in the past decade are at significant risk of chronic coastal flooding by 2050.

J.D. Power, Costa Mesa, Calif., said mortgage servicers havesome of the lowest customer service rankings in 2018 among service industries.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced Friday it extended the comment period by 30 days on its Notice of Proposed Rulemaking implementing the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

In the wake of yet another high-profile data security breach, this time involving Capital One, the Mortgage Bankers Association this week sent a letter to the Federal Trade Commission offering recommendations on a proposed rulemaking on standards for safeguarding customer information.

Bloomberg, Aug. 5, 2019--Frances SchwartzkopffIn the world's biggest covered-bond market, a Danish bank says it's now ready to sell 10-year mortgage-backed notes at a negative coupon for the first time.

Reuters, Aug. 5, 2019--Ann SaphirU.S. banks left loan standards unchanged on commercial and industrial loans to large and mid-sized firms during the second quarter, even as they eased standards on such loans to smaller firms and eased most terms for all size firms, according to a survey of bank officers published on Monday.

National Mortgage News, Aug. 2, 2019--Kate Berry (subscription)Mortgage lenders are fearful that the bottom will fall out of the housing market if the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's proposal to revise underwriting rules reduces the volume of loans sold to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.

New York Times, Aug. 4, 2019--Jim Tankersley, Ben CasselmanThe mortgage-interest deduction, a beloved tax break bound tightly to the American dream of homeownership, once seemed politically invincible. Then it nearly vanished in middle-class neighborhoods across the country, and it appears that hardly anyone noticed.

National Mortgage News, Aug. 2, 2019--Elina Tarkazikis (subscription)Mortgage loans sold through HUD's Distressed Asset Stabilization Program- mainly to private equity firms -are more likely to result in foreclosure than unsold loans, according to the GAO report.

Wall Street Journal, Aug. 2, 2019--Rachel Louise Ensign (subscription)Wells Fargo & Co., in cost-cutting mode, recently asked outside technology consultants to refund some of the money the bank has spent with them in the past year, saying the vendors benefited from its regulatory problems.

National Mortgage Professional, Aug. 2, 2019--Phil HallFDIC Chair Jelena McWilliams stated that cybersecurity was "something we take very seriously." She warned banks that they could face enforcement penalties if they allow cybersecurity breaches to impact their data safety.

HousingWIre, Aug. 1, 2019--Jessica GuerinGinnie Mae is taking yet another step to squash abuses, announcing Thursday it is moving forward with a proposal to remove VA-backed cash-out refinances with high loan-to-value ratios from its flagship securities.

National Mortgage News, Aug. 1, 2019--Bonnie Sinnock (subscription)Fannie Mae's current tack could help it weather some of the new challenges confronting it, including the planned expiration of its qualified mortgage rule exemption and rate-driven earnings volatility.

San Bernardino Sun, Aug. 1, 2019--Jeff LazersonTax credits would be new for mortgage victims, but it's not unprecedented.  CPA Jeff Hipshman of HMWC CPA's and Advisors points to employment-related tax credits.

National Mortgage News, July 31, 2019--Hannah Lang (subscription)Under a HUD proposal that circulated Wednesday but has not officially been unveiled, a consumer would have to follow a more rigorous five-step framework to demonstrate that discrimination occurred. The "disparate impact" doctrine can be used to punish lenders for discriminatory effects even if none were intended.

Wall Street Journal, Aug. 1, 2019--Ben Eisen (subscription)The Federal Housing Administration, which insures loans for mostly first-time buyers, plans to announce Thursday it will limit cash-out refinancings in its program. Borrowers will be able to pull cash out only when the new loan amounts to 80% of the value of the home or less, down from 85%.

National Real Estate Investor, July 31, 2019--Beth Mattson-TeigInvestors are getting increasingly concerned about the outlook for retail-backed commercial mortgage-backed securities 2.0 loans.

HousingWire, July 30, 2019--Jessica GuerinOneWest Bank is finally able to put two-year-old allegations of housing discrimination to rest as HUD approved a settlement Monday that will see the bank hand over a chunk of change to end the ordeal.

Bloomberg, July 30, 2019--Prashant Gopal, Reade Pickert, Noah BuhayarLow mortgage rates and thriving employment should be the recipe for a strong housing market. Instead, they're deepening America's affordability crisis.