Loan Think

The current partisan war over the Dodd-Frank Act is just one dispute in a broader ideological divide about the government’s role in industry.

Under the Trump administration, the challenge for the industry is to find the proper balance between supporting post-financial crisis regulations that have worked well and campaigning for reform efforts that have been ineffective.

With the new administration and eventual new leadership of the regulatory agencies, banks’ calculus that agreeing to consent orders is usually the right course is potentially changing.

As banking leaders gain a more substantial policymaking role, they will have a greater impact if they stake out a clear position in favor of regulations that protect investors and depositors.

The trend of embracing risk-based pricing in conventional mortgage fees and loan-level pricing should be reversed. Instead, credit risk should be pooled to ensure all creditworthy families have access to their American dreams.

Any amendments to the current regulatory framework must preserve banking regulation and supervision’s vital role in the proper functioning of our economy.

Economic growth and lasting positive change within the mortgage industry require carefully considered strategy and close analysis of potential scenarios, not hastily-conceived executive orders.

The mortgage lending industry may not yet be ready to share the market with marketplace lenders, but their choices are slim: Either get on board or get out of the way.

Rising mortgage balances and home prices in Home Mortgage Disclosure Act data will be heartening for consumers that want to sell, but reflect challenges for those who want to buy.

The government-sponsored enterprises should target their affordable housing efforts to strengthening the single-family market, rather than investing in private equity giants.