Politics

The Congressional Budget Office put an estimate on the net government subsidy provided to the Federal Home Loan Bank System, including the so-called "implied guarantee," on bonds priced and sold to investors.

In an address on Tuesday, economic advisor Lael Brainard also discussed the controversy surrounding the president's proposed title waiver program.

The American Land Title Association, which represents the title insurance industry, argued that the program would not cut costs for those who really needed it.

While some said the agency was ignorant of its own rules, one trade group praised the goals of the posting.

Regardless of the effect housing prices have on ballot decisions, almost two-thirds of respondents indicate that current economic trends left them feeling negative about the economy, Redfin said.

The head of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development under the Biden Administration said she will transition from public life starting March 22.

Regulatory reform – rather than Biden's proposed solutions – is needed to fix the inventory crisis, some say, but others applauded the president's buyer cost-cutting initiatives.

The title proposal is part of a broader housing cost reduction proposal being discussed in the State of the Union speech.

During a contentious exchange on his second day of congressional testimony this week, the Federal Reserve chair drew a line between the central bank's response to last year's bank failures and its current capital proposal.

In congressional testimony, the Federal Reserve chair said the Board of Governors is processing the comments on its capital reform proposal. Putting forth an entirely new proposal is "very plausible."

The letter, which was sent to bank regulators, represents a further escalation of lawmaker criticism of the Basel III endgame proposal, and comes just as Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell is set to testify in the House Financial Services Committee.

Critics argue the Federal Home Loan Bank System earned record profits last year and should provide a public benefit commensurate with the perks to members.

Until Congress addresses the federal deficit, the tendency will be for higher long-term interest rates regardless of what the Fed does with the short end of the yield curve, writes the Chairman of Whalen Global Advisors.

But a part of the proposal getting mixed reviews extends a risk sharing program that provides capital to housing finance agencies for multifamily loans.

Technology and compliance expert Anne Marie Pippin will help lead the division of conservatorship, oversight and readiness, while Anju Vajja takes on a similar position on the research team.

Three years after the federal relief effort was introduced, close to half of all states continue to accept applications, but New Hampshire and Oklahoma announced pending closures of their programs next month.

At issue is whether convenience fees for last-minute payments are governed by the Federal Debt Collection Practice Act, and if so, when they should be disclosed.

The Federal Housing Administration's new foreclosure prevention strategy starts soon and a Department of Veterans Affairs option is getting final approvals.

The blockbuster merger proposal will be reviewed at a time when the Biden administration is expressing skepticism about consolidation. Its analysis will have to account for markets dominated by both big banks and the likes of Visa and Mastercard.

Gate House Compliance is working with experts like Michael Waldron and Paul Hancock to provide services like fair lending and servicing assessments.