The Massachusetts progressive said in a New Year's Eve email and video message to supporters that she’s launching an exploratory committee for a 2020 bid, which could give her an early edge in fundraising among several potential rivals for the Democratic Party nomination.

The biggest question is whether new CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger will deviate from the pro-industry policies of her predecessor, or bring continuity.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued guidance late Friday that will shield some new mortgage data from the public that lenders are required to report.

From a housing market in turmoil and the technology to save it to the myriad new faces in both the industry and Washington, here's a look back at some of the biggest and most read mortgage and housing stories of 2018.

Kathy Kraninger's first official action as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is to reverse course on acting chief Mick Mulvaney's effort to rename it the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, which consumer groups and others had sharply criticized as confusing and costly.

The newly sworn-in director’s first public remarks seemed to contrast with the approach of her predecessor, Mick Mulvaney, who at times questioned the role of the agency.

The Trump appointee officially took over for Mick Mulvaney as head of the agency following her Senate confirmation last week.

Executives urged the consumer bureau at a public meeting to keep a closer eye on artificial intelligence innovations developed by fintech firms that are subject to less regulation.

Kraninger's nomination was lauded by industry groups, but vigorously opposed by consumer groups and Democratic lawmakers.

The CFPB ordered Village Capital & Investment in Henderson, Nev., to issue refunds and pay a penalty for allegedly misrepresenting the cost savings in a refi product.

Democrats on the House Financial Services Committee are expected to shine a spotlight on Trump-appointed regulators, but that light might shine brightest on one agency in particular.

An internal agency analysis says changing the name of the bureau to the BCFP, as Mulvaney wants, could cost banks, credit unions and mortgage firms $300 million. It doesn’t have to be this way.

A motion to limit debate on the nominee to run the consumer bureau passed along strictly party lines, setting the stage for her to be confirmed as early as next week.

Kathy Kraninger, who may get a confirmation vote as early as this week, has suggested a similar vision to that of the agency’s current acting chief. But some see signs she could bring a different approach to the job.

Majority Leader Mitch McConnell filed a motion for cloture on the nomination of Kathy Kraninger to run the agency, setting up a potential vote later this month.

Regulators typically write rules before applying them. But the CFPB is attempting the reverse.

The federal agencies said in a recent statement that “guidance does not have the force and effect of law,” but two trade groups say that standard should be more binding.

While the foreclosure crisis is over and federal regulators are being less assertive on enforcement actions, mortgage servicers must remain vigilant about compliance, as state agencies are stepping up their own oversight, according to Standard & Poor's.

Despite recriminations about how the crisis and ensuing regulations have tightened loan access, an actual assessment of mortgage credit availability finds the situation is more complicated.

Questions surrounding Eric Blankenstein, a senior CFPB official whose racially charged writings from over a decade ago have led to calls for his resignation, have been referred to the agency's watchdog.