FHFA: U.S. House Prices Rise 1.6 Percent in Second Quarter 2017
Washington, D.C. – U.S. house prices rose 1.6 percent in the second quarter of 2017 according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI). House prices rose 6.6 percent from the second quarter of 2016 to the second quarter of 2017. FHFA’s seasonally adjusted monthly index for June was up 0.1 percent…
CFPB: What you Need to Know about the New FFIEC HMDA Examiner Transaction Testing Guidelines
Today, the Federal Financial Institutions Examination Council (FFIEC) members announced new FFIEC Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) Examiner Transaction Testing Guidelines (Guidelines) for all financial institutions that report HMDA data. The Guidelines will apply to the examination of HMDA data collected beginning in 2018 and reported beginning in 2019. The Guidelines will help ensure accurate…
CFPB: Tips for Tax Preparers to Use to Help People Save and Build Assets During Tax Time
Saving money can be hard, especially for people who are living paycheck to paycheck. Often, people who are struggling to make ends meet don’t have enough money to save, or a way to transfer money automatically into a savings account. That’s why once a year when consumers file their tax returns may be a time…
FHFA: Modifications Announced to High LTV Streamlined Refinance Program and Extension of HARP through December 2018
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced modifications to the streamlined refinance program for borrowers with high loan-to-value (LTV) ratios. On August 25, 2016, FHFA announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) would implement a High LTV Streamlined Refinance program to provide much-needed liquidity for borrowers who are current on their mortgage…
FHFA: Refinance Volume Continued to Slow in Second Quarter 2017
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that more than 356,709 refinances were completed in the second quarter of 2017, compared with 510,074 in the first quarter. FHFA’s second quarter Refinance Report also shows that more than 9,700 loans were refinanced through the Home Affordable Refinance Program, bringing the total number of HARP refinances…
Federal Reserve: The Effect of Interest Rates on Home Buying
The Effect of Interest Rates on Home Buying: Evidence from a Discontinuity in Mortgage Insurance Premiums (PDF) Neil Bhutta and Daniel Ringo We study the effect of interest rates on the housing market by taking advantage of a sudden and unexpected price change in a large government mortgage program. The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) insures…
CFPB: Working to Better Serve People Through Financial Coaching
At the CFPB, we recognize the value of financial coaching. Financial coaching is an emerging practice in which trained financial coaches work collaboratively with clients to help them identify and reach their personal financial goals. That’s why in April, we hosted the 2017 Financial Coaching Symposium in Madison, Wisconsin. The event brought together financial coaching…
CDFI Fund: More than $18.6 Million in Bank Enterprise Awards Announced for Investment in Low-Income Communities
Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund) announced more than $18.6 million in awards to 102 FDIC-insured financial institutions serving economically distressed communities across the nation. These funds, awarded under the fiscal year (FY) 2016 round of the Bank Enterprise Award Program (BEA Program), will support community and…
ABA: 10 Money Mistakes College Freshmen May Soon Regret
As college freshmen begin arriving on campuses across the country, the American Bankers Association Foundation is highlighting common money mistakes many of their predecessors wish they had avoided. “Most college freshmen are getting a taste of economic freedom for the first time, and they may not realize that small expenses can add up really quickly,”…