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Author name: Ricky Vasquez

Jerome Powell

Republicans play nice with Powell despite Trump’s criticism

Minimum capital requirements, Monetary policy, Politics and policy, Regulation and compliance /

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell testifying in the House Financial Services Committee Tuesday morning.Bloomberg News WASHINGTON — House Republicans struck a mostly cordial tone with Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at a hearing at the House Financial Services Committee.  Trump, ahead of the hearing, called on Republicans to press Powell after he held interest rates […]

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Bank of America exits CFPB monitoring three years early

Bank of America, CFPB News & Analysis, Regulation and compliance /

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau cut short a five-year agreement with Bank of America Corp. over the bank’s alleged submission of false mortgage data as the significantly curtailed government agency rolls back a bevy of settlements, ending the monitoring of BofA more than three years early. The bank “fulfilled the obligations” of the agreement signed

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Lenders get a better view of condo blacklist but want more

Condos and HOAs, Secondary markets, Underwriting /

Four years after a notorious condominium collapse that suddenly tightened home lending standards, influential government-sponsored enterprises have soothed some industry tensions, but lenders say there’s still more to be done. “Increased transparency regarding which condo projects are and are not on Fannie and Freddie’s approved list has been a big CHLA priority — so we

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Nonwarrantable condos fuel niche lending boom

Condos and HOAs, Housing markets, LOAN PRODUCTS, MARKETING TO BORROWERS /

In the four years since the Surfside condo collapse, a wave of regulatory changes continues to unsettle property owners and lenders, compounding challenges in an already fragile housing market. The scrutiny on condo developments in the aftermath of Surfside led to tightened lending rules that continue to put properties across the country onto a nonwarrantable

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Senate GOP to offer $40K SALT cap with lower income threshold

SALT deduction, Tax, Trump tax plan /

Senate Republicans are coming around to the $40,000 cap on state and local tax deduction key House lawmakers demand in President Donald Trump’s massive tax package, but they want to lower the income threshold.  Senator Markwayne Mullin of Oklahoma, a key negotiator, said he plans to make the offer late Monday to House Republicans from

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Reforming Fannie and Freddie is must be done carefully BankThink

Trump could solve the housing crisis with no help from Congress

Affordable housing, Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Housing markets, Treasury Department /

The president should unwind the federal government’s stake in Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and direct the proceeds to a housing remainder trust designed to close critical gaps in real estate lending, writes Joshua Rosner, of Graham Foster & Co.Adobe Stock America’s post-pandemic paradox is clear: The economy keeps adding jobs, but the supply of

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These four strategies are helping title companies win more business

SoftPro, Sponsored, Technology, Title /

Does winning new business feel harder than ever? It’s not your imagination. Higher interest rates, low housing inventory, and tighter margins have combined to shrink the number of available transactions. And with all title professionals vying for scarcer deals, it’s easy to feel like you’re doing all the right things—delivering great service, meeting deadlines, solving

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QC risks are shifting: Fraud, insurance, and compliance take center stage

ACES Quality Management, Legal, Mortgage, Mortgage Fraud, Sponsored /

Traditional QC risks are declining, but lenders now face mounting exposures in fraud, insurance gaps and compliance volatility. The mortgage industry’s quality control risk landscape is shifting dramatically. Traditional defect categories such as income and employment and credit are seeing historic declines, while once-marginal issues like insurance gaps and fraud are now taking center stage.

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Why it’s time to rethink the appraisal default in home equity lending 

Appraisals and Valuations, Contributors, HWmember, Opinion /

With mortgage rates still hovering near multi-decade highs, homeowners are opting to hold onto their ultra-low first mortgages. Instead of refinancing, they’re tapping into their equity through home equity loans and HELOCs to finance renovations, cover tuition, or consolidate high-interest debt.  Lenders are stepping up with a broader menu of second-lien products to meet this

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