Lending

FHFA: Additional Data Released on Enterprise Fair Lending and Housing Goals

Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) released several sets of demographic data related to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s (the Enterprises) fair lending and housing goals activities. The rate of homeownership for minority families in the United States continues to lag well behind the national average. Fair lending is central to the principles under…

FHFA: Equitable Housing Finance Plans for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Announced

Public input requested on how Enterprises can sustainably advance equitable housing finance Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) is announcing that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will submit Equitable Housing Finance Plans to FHFA by the end of 2021. The Enterprises will update these plans annually. The plans will identify and address…

FHFA: Increase in the Enterprises’ LITHC Cap Announced

To support underserved markets, each Enterprise can now invest up to $850 million annually in LIHTC Today, to support underserved markets, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) can each invest up to $850 million annually in the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) market as equity investors,…

FHFA: Enterprises’ REO First Look Period Extended to 30 Days

Will allow more time for owner occupants to purchase REO properties Today, through the First Look Program, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) extended from 20 to 30 days, the period during which owner occupants, public entities, and nonprofits will have exclusive ability to buy Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) real estate owned…

CFPB: New Proposed Rule Issued on Small Business Lending Data Collection Under Equal Credit Opportunity Act (Regulation B)

The Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection (Bureau) is publishing for public comment a proposed rule amending Regulation B to implement changes to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act (ECOA) made by section 1071 of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act (Dodd-Frank Act). Consistent with section 1071, the Bureau is proposing to require covered…

CFPB: Proposed Rule to Shine New Light on Small Businesses’ Access to Credit

Proposal Would Increase Transparency in a $2.4 Trillion Sector of the American Economy and Bolster Fair Lending The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today proposed a new rule designed to help small businesses gain access to the credit they need and deserve by increasing transparency in the lending marketplace. This rule, mandated by Congress in…

CFPB: New Report Finds Mortgage Refinance Loans Drove an Increase in Closed-End Originations in 2020

A new Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) data report  on residential mortgage lending trends released today by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau finds that the total number of closed-end originations as well as applications increased substantially between 2019 and 2020. Closed-end originations (excluding reverse mortgages) increased in 2020 by 65.2 percent, from 8.3 million in 2019 to…

SBA: PPP Direct Borrower Forgiveness Portal Surpasses Expectations and Accepts More than 340,000 Submissions in First Two Weeks

SBA portal significantly outpacing top PPP lenders not utilizing the Agency’s direct forgiveness tool in forgiveness submissions Since the opening of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Direct Borrower Forgiveness Portal on August 4, the U.S. Small Business Administration has received more than 340,000 submissions from borrowers with PPP loans of $150,000 or less, highlighting Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman’s priority of rushing relief to the smallest of small businesses and far exceeding expectations.  In providing its new, streamlined portal, the SBA is also executing…

FHFA: 2022-2024 Housing Goals for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Published

Stakeholder comments requested for proposed goals which establish benchmarks, promote equitable access to affordable housing Today, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) proposed housing goals​ for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) for 2022 to 2024. The proposed housing goals are designed to ensure the Enterprises responsibly promote equitable access to affordable housing that reaches…

ABA: Report Finds Credit Conditions Remained Strong in First Quarter 2021

Credit conditions remained strong in the first quarter of 2021, as U.S. consumers continued to drive the economic recovery, according to the American Bankers Association’s latest quarterly Credit Card Market Monitor. While monthly purchase volumes were mostly unchanged compared to the fourth quarter of 2020 and were roughly equivalent to early 2019 levels, credit card…