FHFA: Index Shows Mortgage Rates Increased in January
Washington, D.C. – Nationally, interest rates on conventional purchase-money mortgages increased from December to January, according to several indices of new mortgage contracts. The National Average Contract Mortgage Rate for the Purchase of Previously Occupied Homes by Combined Lenders Index was 4.22 percent for loans closed in late January, up 22 basis points from 4.00…
SBA: Administrator McMahon Appoints Mary Anne Bradfield as Chief of Staff
WASHINGTON – Administrator Linda McMahon of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) announced today that Mary Anne Bradfield will serve as her new Chief of Staff. “I’m so pleased to have Mary Anne by my side. Her wealth of private and public sector leadership and management experience, including four years of experience at SBA in…
FHFA: US House Prices Rise 1.5 Percent in Fourth Quarter
Washington, D.C. – U.S. house prices rose 1.5 percent in the fourth quarter of 2016 according to the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) House Price Index (HPI). House prices rose 6.2 percent from the fourth quarter of 2015 to the fourth quarter of 2016. FHFA’s seasonally adjusted monthly index for December was up 0.4 percent…
CFPB: Using alternative data to evaluate creditworthiness
Without credit, it is nearly impossible to buy a home or start a business. People face barriers to accessing credit or have to pay more for credit for several reasons. Some people have negative items, such as a record of late payments, on their credit report. Other people have trouble documenting their income. Still others…
CFPB: Bureau Explores Impact of Alternative Data on Credit Access for Consumers Who Are Credit Invisible
CFPB Seeks Public Feedback on Benefits, Risks of Using Unconventional Sources to Extend Affordable Credit to Consumers Lacking Credit History WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today launched an inquiry into ways to expand access to credit for consumers who are credit invisible or who lack enough credit history to obtain a credit score….
FHFA: Refinance Volume Continued to Slow in Fourth Quarter
Washington, D.C. – The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that 13,220 borrowers refinanced their mortgages through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) from October through December. FHFA’s fourth quarter Refinance Report also shows that total refinance volume fell in December, as mortgage interest rates increased. Total HARP refinances now stand at 3,447,671 since…
FHFA: Deadline Extended for Public Input on Potential Chattel Loan Pilot in Duty to Serve Program
Washington, D.C. – The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is extending the deadline, from Feb. 17, 2017 to March 21, 2017, for stakeholders to respond to a request for input on potential manufactured home chattel loans pilot initiatives for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) as part of the Duty to Serve underserved markets. …
CDFI Fund: “Access to Capital and Credit in Native Communities” Data Release Now Available
Today, the Native Nations Institute released a Data Review to accompany the Access to Capital and Credit in Native Communities Report (the Report) commissioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund (CDFI Fund). The Data Review helped set the stage for the Report by collecting data regarding access to capital and credit in American…
CFPB: How to Decide How Much to Spend on Your Down Payment
One of the toughest parts of buying a home for the first time is coming up with a down payment. You may have heard that in order to buy, you should have 20 percent of the total cost of the home saved up for the down payment. Actually, you can choose how much to put…
CFPB: Debt Relief Attorneys Sued for Collecting Illegal Fees from Struggling Consumers
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau today took action against a ring of law firms and attorneys who collaborated to charge illegal fees to consumers seeking debt relief. In a complaint filed in federal court, the CFPB alleges that Howard Law, P.C., the Williamson Law Firm, LLC, and Williamson & Howard, LLP, as well as…