The Lede

A quarterly survey of 100 economists by Zillow Inc., Seattle, and Pulsenomics LLC found with climate change and natural disasters posing a growing threat to communities across the United States, funding for preventative measures and construction regulations makes better sense than the government providing or requiring insurance.

National Mortgage News, Mar. 12, 2019--Brad Finkelstein (subscription)The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association approved changes to its good delivery guidelines that ease the path to the government-sponsored enterprises issuing uniform mortgage-backed securities starting on June 3.

The Mortgage Bankers Association invites you to participate in a Mar. 22 webinar focused on loan servicing.

HousingWire, Mar. 18, 2019--Ben LanePricewaterhouseCoopers will pay $335 million to the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in a settlement that ends claims that the auditor failed in its duties by not discovering the accounting malfeasance that led to the late-2000s collapse of Colonial Bank, which funded the mortgages originated by Taylor, Bean & Whitaker.

MarketWatch, Mar. 18, 2019--Keith JurowThe author says cash-out refinances could leave some housing markets particularly vulnerable to the same issues that plagued them during the Great Recession.

American Banker, Mar. 15, 2019--Hannah Lang (subscription)The Senate Banking Committee will hold two days of hearings at the end of March on Chairman Mike Crapo's most recent framework for housing finance reform. Robert Broeksmit, President and CEO of the Mortgage Bankers Association, and Vince Malta, president-elect of the National Association of Realtors, are among the witnesses slated to testify at the March 27 hearing.

DS News, Mar. 14, 2019--Stephanie BacotHUD released a pair of new mortgagee letters earlier this week, and now FHA Commissioner Brian D. Montgomery has spoken of how these latest changes reflect his commitment to further streamlining and improving FHA's processes and providing fewer hindrances to lenders and servicers interacting with FHA.

National Mortgage News, Mar. 14, 2019--Paul Centopani (free article)Commercial and multifamily mortgage debt outstanding grew 6.8% in 2018, benefiting from strong employment numbers and strained inventory, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association.

The Mortgage Reports, Mar. 14, 2019--Peter MillerUnintentional mortgage fraud may seem impossible, but financial criminals can be cunning. They don't come out and announce their illegal acts. Instead, they work diligently to confuse and compromise both lenders and borrowers.

Financial Regulation News, Mar. 13, 2019--Dave KovaleskiThe Mortgage Bankers Association released a report this week detailing changes it proposes to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. The paper, called The Roadmap to CFPB 2.0, seeks to ensure stability and consistent consumer protections in the CFPB's practices and rules.

American Banker, Mar. 13, 2019--Hannah Lang (subscription)The House Financial Services Committee debated a package of legislation Wednesday to reform and reauthorize the National Flood Insurance Program, a program that both Republicans and Democrats agree needs substantial changes.

NBC News, Mar. 13, 2019--Tom WinterManafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, was indicted on 16 counts tied to residential mortgage fraud and conspiracy, according to the indictment unsealed Wednesday.

National Mortgage News, Mar. 13, 2019--Melissa Angell (subscription)The Senate Banking Committee is planning to tackle legislative reform of the government-sponsored enterprises in the current congressional term, said Chairman Mike Crapo, R-Idaho.

Wall Street Journal, Mar. 11, 2019--Nick Timiraos (subscription)Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell said he was supportive of regulators' continuing efforts to improve the way they implement the Community Reinvestment Act, a 1977 law that requires federally insured banks to promote lending to borrowers in low- and moderate-income areas.

The Oregoninan, Mar. 12, 2019--Elliot NjusLawmakers have proposed eliminating the state's piece of the popular mortgage interest deduction for second homes and reducing it for high earners. Eliminating the write-off in those cases would raise $150 million.