Industries

Democrats Ritchie Torres and Gregory Meeks called on the New York Home Loan bank to follow the lead of its peers and use alternative credit scoring models for collateral to improve consumers' access to homeownership.

Rule changes would come after a fraud investigation uncovered falsified numbers at a leading finance firm, according to the Wall Street Journal.

First Foundation in Dallas recently got a $228 million capital injection led by Fortress Investment Group. Now it's announced plans to pivot away from its heavy focus on multifamily loans, which lost value as interest rates rose.

Despite being a top concern for a wide swath of voters, housing affordability has largely been absent from presidential politics.

The guidance is largely unchanged from what the agencies proposed last year. It directs institutions to craft policies that consider a wide array of potential shortcomings.

For at least the fifth consecutive quarter, the Providence, Rhode Island, company increased its allowance for credit losses on general office loans, which continue to be a problem area for banks.

More than 50% of aspiring buyers expect their next purchase will cost less than the latest median value, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

The Federal Reserve's struggle in bringing inflation down from its current level to its 2% target may come down to how the government measures shelter costs in the U.S., leading some experts to question whether the problem is in the economy or in how it is measured.

First Foundation will use the large investment to shrink its multifamily loan portfolio, which has weighed down its earnings since interest rates began rising.

The sales pace is now at the low end of the range seen over the past year, suggesting limited momentum amid a lack of affordability.

A decline in interest rates during the first quarter drove a Freddie Mac indicator higher for the first time since mid-2023, while a leading investment firm announced a deal aimed at boosting originations for government-sponsored enterprise financing.

Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell says crushing inflation is the most important thing the Fed can do to reduce costs in the housing market. Some economists and policy specialists say higher rates are not the only tool at its disposal.

The Federal Reserve chair said a rate cut would not solve the underlying issues driving up shelter costs, even as housing becomes a disproportionate driver of inflation.

Housing starts increased 5.7% to a 1.36 million annualized rate after downward revisions to prior months, according to government data released Thursday.

The move further diversifies a company working to grow beyond its roots in what is currently a small — but possibly expanding — single-family distressed market.

The National Association of Home Builders/Wells Fargo index of housing market conditions fell by 6 points to 45 in May, the lowest level since the start of the year.

Federal Reserve Governor Lisa D. Cook highlighted concerns over private credit growth, commercial real estate distress and escalating cyber threats in remarks on financial stability at the Brookings Institution Wednesday.

In talks with OCC officials, "it became obvious that we would not gain near-term approval given their recent experience with multifamily and CRE positions," FirstSun CEO Neal Arnold says. The companies announced other revisions to their deal, too.

Residential starts decreased 14.7% in March to a 1.32 million annualized rate, the lowest since August, government data showed Tuesday.

Lumber prices climbed higher for the first time since July, but prospects for single-family construction to grow look promising based on early-year data.