Origination

The total number of new home equity lines of credit increased 36% in the first quarter according to Equifax.

Mortgage applications decreased for the week ending May 15, according to the Mortgage Bankers Association's Weekly Mortgage Applications Survey.

Critics of the regulatory relief bill proposed by Sen. Richard Shelby argue that will endanger the financial system and benefit big banks. But in fact, the changes offer sensible, nonpartisan fixes to some of the biggest problems with the Dodd-Frank Act.

Fannie Mae is planning to follow the lead of its rival, Freddie Mac, and offer securities with exposure to actual losses on the single-family mortgages that it ensures.

It's a good idea to raise the asset threshold at which financial institutions are automatically designated as systemically important financial institutions. But Sen. Richard Shelby's proposed legislation for regulatory relief does require one crucial change.

Consent orders with Sprint and Verizon demonstrate the extent that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau expects businesses — including lenders — to affirmatively protect consumers from harm in any way related to the business transacted between them.

New residential construction surged in April to the highest level in more than seven years, indicating the industry regained its footing after the soft patch at the beginning of the year.

U.S. Bank and Bank of America won't have to face lawsuits claiming they failed to safeguard the interests of investors as required by their contracts.

Banks and mortgage firms representing 70% of the New York market will adopt a set of best practices to combat the "zombie properties" afflicting communities throughout the state, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced Monday.

Politicians and regulators need to get with the times — for the sake of the housing market and its participants.