To crack down on abusive lending, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., wants upfront disclosures of a mortgage broker's compensation and a ban on prepayment penalties, along with a requirement that all subprime mortgages have escrow accounts."We need to put an end to fly-night-night mortgage brokers peddling loans to unqualified applicants based on inflated appraisals," the Democratic presidential candidate said in a speech outlining legislative proposals she intends to introduce when Congress returns in September. Her legislation will also provide $1 billion to assist state-sponsored foreclosure rescue funds and expand Fannie Mae's and Freddie Mac's mission to include helping at-risk homeowners avoid foreclosure. "If I were president, I would address abuses across the mortgage industry with a plan to curb unfair lending practices and hold brokers and lenders accountable, give families the support they need to avoid foreclosure, and increase the supply of affordable housing," the New York senator said.
