Compliance & Regulation

Supporters maintain hope that the Federal Housing Administration will revive a proposed premium cut, but a key obstacle remains: There's no one to run the agency.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's final rule to formalize guidance on a number of TILA-RESPA Integrated Disclosures compliance points omits an originally proposed fix for the so-called black hole that's created when a mortgage closing is delayed.

National Credit Union Administration Chairman J. Mark McWatters said dropping Consumer Financial Protection Bureau oversight of credit unions would free up CFPB resources.

Federal Reserve Board Gov. Jerome Powell stopped short of endorsing any single housing finance reform plan, but called on lawmakers to resolve what he described as the biggest unfinished business of the crisis.

The renewed debate on reforming Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is focused on how small and midsize banks would be affected.

If HSBC reaches an agreement with the government, it could give an early indication of how the Trump administration will levy financial penalties.

The Trump administration's Justice Department was expected to be less aggressive in its pursuit of False Claims Act cases against the mortgage industry. Instead, its focus has shifted to Federal Housing Administration-insured reverse mortgages.

Morgan Stanley received credit for $30 million of consumer relief, completing 85% of the obligations required by its February 2016 settlement with New York State.

From the largest banks to the smallest independents, policymakers want to hear the mortgage industry speak with one voice in the critical efforts to reform the government-sponsored enterprises.

Both parties appear interested in a deal on housing finance reform, but tough fights are ahead.