Research

FHFA: 2018 Multifamily Lending Caps for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Announced

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that the 2018 multifamily lending caps for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will be $35 billion for each Enterprise, down from $36.5 billion in 2017.  The caps are based on projections of the overall size of the 2018 multifamily originations market, which FHFA expects to…

Census Bureau: More Children Live With Just Their Fathers Than a Decade Ago

The percentage of children living with one parent who live with just their father saw an increase from 12.5 percent in 2007 to 16.1 percent in 2017. That’s according to new statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2017 America’s Families and Living Arrangements table package. “A higher percentage of children living with one parent live…

FHFA: Total Refinance Volume Ticks Up Slightly in Third Quarter 2017

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today reported that more than 362,934 refinances were completed in the third quarter of 2017, compared with 356,707 in the second quarter.  FHFA’s third quarter Refinance Report also shows that more than 6,913 loans were refinanced through the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), bringing the total number of HARP…

Federal Reserve: Speech | Where Do Consumers Fit in the FinTech Stack?

Where Do Consumers Fit in the Fintech Stack? Governor Lael Brainard The new generation of fintech tools offers the potential to help consumers manage their increasingly complicated financial lives, but also poses risks that will need to be managed as the marketplace matures.1 In many ways, the new generation of fintech tools can be seen…

Census Bureau: Webinar on November 28th on Release of 2012-2016 ACS Five-Year Estimates

What: The U.S. Census Bureau will hold a webinar on Nov. 28, 2017, in advance of the Dec. 7 release of the 2012-2016 American Community Survey five-year estimates. Members of the media will have embargo access to the information beginning Dec. 5. The webinar will show participants how to access the data and compare geographies…

Census Bureau: Declining Mover Rate Driven by Renters

The rate at which renters moved in 2017 was at a historic low of 21.7 percent, compared to 35.2 percent in 1988, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data released today from the Current Population Survey. However, renters still moved at a higher rate than owners (21.7 percent compared with 5.5 percent, respectively). “Although renters…

HUD: FHA Releases 2017 Annual Report to Congress

Capital Reserves remain above statutory minimum for third straight year The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) today released its 2017 Annual Report to Congress on the economic condition of the agency’s Mutual Mortgage Insurance Fund (MMI Fund). FHA reports that at the end FY 2017, the MMI Fund had a total economic net worth of $25.6…

FHFA: 2017 Performance and Accountability Report Released

The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today released its Performance and Accountability Report, which details FHFA’s activities as regulator of the Federal Home Loan Bank System and as regulator and conservator of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac during fiscal year 2017.  For the ninth consecutive year, FHFA received an unmodified audit opinion on its FY…

CFPB: Add Your Company to the List of Sources for Free Credit Scores

If your company offers free credit scores and would like to be included on our list, respond to our recently posted Federal Register Notice. By Maria Jaramillo   When people have access to their credit score, they can feel empowered to better manage their financial lives. They can do this by learning about their credit…

OCC: Acting Comptroller Explores the Separation of Banking and Commerce

Acting Comptroller of the Currency Keith A. Noreika today explored how the separation of banking and commerce evolved in the United States and called for a broader discussion of whether the separation continues to serve the best interest of the nation’s banking system and economy today. Related Links Remarks (PDF) Acting Comptroller of the Currency…