Diversity and equality

Although it moved from the glitz of Las Vegas to a fully virtual event, the 2020 Digital Mortgage Conference delivered insights and acumen from the industry.

A deep understanding of the history of racial discrimination in both lending and technology is a prerequisite to the development of new technologies, panelists said.

After being approved, retroactively denied and having a second application rejected, the firm is appealing the decision with federal regulators.

The final version of the amended rule, like the original proposal, makes fair lending claims tougher to prove; but it does soften language that otherwise might have allowed mortgage companies to use algorithms to prove nondiscrimination.

Party polarization and racial equity issues make it tougher for trade groups to manage internal divisions while ensuring the field supports those who get their hands on the levers of power.

The California Assembly is considering a bill that would require local governments to permit duplexes on parcels now largely restricted to one house, in effect eliminating single-family zoning that dominates in most suburban residential neighborhoods.

The Federal Reserve could ease capital rules, foster the creation of special-purpose banks and take other steps to strengthen minority communities and businesses without legislation being sought in Congress — if it has the will to do so, experts say.

The CFPB is giving stakeholders until Dec. 1 to file comments on a potential overhaul to its rules related to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act, which prohibits discrimination in credit and lending decisions.

Treasurer Ma has championed programs to give minority and women-owned businesses a seat at the table throughout her career. A mission of the Treasurer is increasing diversity to increase equitable outcomes.

Fannie Mae's new chief administrative officer position focuses on diversity, inclusion and affordable housing.

A former home mortgage consultant with the company alleges she was subjected to a lower compensation structure, awards and benefits compared to her male counterparts.

Boston Common is planning to confront banks and real estate investors as an eviction crisis looms across the U.S., one that's likely to disproportionately impact Black Americans and other minorities.

The agency sought feedback on potential changes to the Equal Credit Opportunity Act. But a coalition of industry and advocacy groups want a longer comment period to afford “a greater opportunity for thoughtful public participation.”

Seeking to reverse a decades-long disparity in homeownership, the Urban League of Greater Madison has launched a $5 million initiative to help more Black Madisonians own their own homes.

While Black homeownership just rose to its highest level in 16 years, it's still the lowest of any racial demographic and 29 percentage points behind white people.

The Federal Reserve Racial and Economic Equity Act would direct the Fed to consider racial inequality in employment, income and access to affordable credit when making monetary policy and in its regulation and supervision of banks.

For 32 years, the Bay Area city of Sausalito has used strict zoning restrictions to protect its scrappy industrial waterfront, banning both housing and offices in the 225-acre Marinship district, which stretches for about a mile north of downtown.

Black homeownership grew for the fourth quarter in a row, hitting its largest percentage since 2004 despite disproportionate impacts of the coronavirus.

The Trump administration's executive order to terminate and replace federal enforcement of anti-discrimination policies at the local level, citing the burden it put on municipalities, enraged advocates of equitable housing practices.

The chairman of the Association of Independent Mortgage Experts is distancing himself from the organization after a Quicken Loans executive's wife filed a defamation lawsuit against him for vulgar group texts.