Tax

Flagstar Bancorp swung to a fourth-quarter loss as the company took an $80 million noncash charge to earnings because of the tax reform bill.

Home remodeling activity reached a high not seen since 2001, signaling homeowners are either gearing up to sell their properties or committing to staying put for a bit longer.

The changes created by tax reform will be a mixed influence on housing as consumers will have more to spend to buy a property, but lose other benefits of homeownership.

In the nation's hottest housing markets, inventory shortage has reached crisis levels, according to Zillow.

The new tax law helped boost fourth-quarter results at SunTrust Banks in Atlanta, while the recent rate hikes led to gains in spread income.

The percentage of refinances grew to 40% of all closed loans in December, according to Ellie Mae.

Though multifamily housing starts are projected to slightly moderate this year and next, production levels are expected to remain in a steady range considered normal, according to the National Association of Home Builders.

The new cap on the mortgage interest deduction should help the first time home buyer market by forcing sellers to lower prices, at least in the near term.

Consumer confidence in the housing market during December was better than it was 12 months prior but weaker than in November.

Homeowners can tap into more home equity than ever before, but deciding between a home equity line of credit and cash out refinance mortgage has gotten more complicated following recently passed tax reforms.

Manhattan home resales fell in the fourth quarter as buyers wavered ahead of the expected tax overhaul and stood firm in their refusal to overpay.

Employees at HarborOne Bank and its Merrimack Mortgage Co. subsidiary will see their minimum wage rise to $15 per hour, the latest company to accelerate plans to hike salaries.

Mortgage rates rose to their highest level since the summer as predicted following Congress passing income tax reform, according to Freddie Mac.

They aren't creating new products, but some lenders are advising cash-strapped customers in high-tax states to tap home equity or other credit lines to prepay property taxes before the new tax law kicks in.

From deregulation to digital innovation, here's a look at the top storylines that defined the mortgage industry in 2017.

Any decline in home equity balances could be offset by higher demand for other types of consumer loans. The worry is that only borrowers with blemished credit will take out home equity loans, increasing banks’ risk.

The legislation and public perceptions of it are expected to play a major role in 2018 elections that will determine whether Republicans retain control of Congress.

Earlier versions of the bill would have caused bigger changes in how Americans finance home purchases, higher education and retirement. Still, the final legislation will have important effects on borrowing and saving decisions.

The tax reform bill Congress sent to President Trump's desk this week is likely to prompt at least a short-term spike in mortgage rates.

Sales of previously owned homes rose in November to an almost 11-year high, indicating demand picked up momentum heading into the end of the year.