Loan Think

The decline in homeownership can be stopped, and even reversed, by taking action on credit access, better evangelizing for down payment programs and offering borrower counseling.

Fears about repurchase requests made by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac persisted beyond the crisis, but those fears don't match actual repurchase numbers.

A Massachusetts court's recent ruling affirming homeowners associations' right to super lien priority highlights the importance of preserving condominium properties — and some banks agree.

Without the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau setting specific debt collection guidelines — including what technology agencies can use — the industry will continue a practice that harms consumers: lawsuits.

A popular misconception is that homeownership would decline if mortgage subsidies were done away with, but the truth is homeowners are better off without them.

Recent legislative proposals to make piecemeal changes to the government-sponsored enterprises could set broader GSE reform on the wrong path.

If the Federal Housing Administration wishes to take seriously the concerns lenders have about the definition of a loan error, demonstrating flexibility in crafting and revising its guidelines is a good place to start.

Lenders that sell both forward and reverse mortgages must carefully consider how their products are offered to older borrowers to avoid confusion that could lead to accusations of financial abuse.

Credit access and homeownership for low- to moderate-income families are under siege by the DOJ's overuse of the False Claims Act, as lenders worried about punitive damages discontinue Federal Housing Administration loan programs.

With consumers generally averse to risk, financial institutions have an opportunity to rethink what it means to make bets in line with their customers' well-being.