ByLew Sichelman

FEB 22, 2012 3:47am ET

Bernanke Tells Builders Lending Rules Are ‘Too Tight’

ByLew Sichelman

FEB 22, 2012 3:47am ET

ORLANDO, FL—Fed chairman Ben Bernanke called on regulators to “look carefully” at rules that diminish the origination of prudently underwritten mortgages, telling a gathering of homebuilders that the health of t...

Larry Baer, Market Alert

The Greek government clinched a major financial bailout agreement with the European Union and International Monetary fund yesterday.  The financing facility will ensure the Greeks avoid a messy sovereign debt default – at least for the near term.  The majority of global investors still harbor grave concerns over the p...

Today, FHFA Acting Director  DeMarco sent the following transmittal letter and report:

http://www.fhfa.gov/webfiles/23344/StrategicPlanConservatorshipsFINAL.pdf

FHFA Sends Congress Strategic Plan for

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Conservatorships

 Washington, DC – Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Acting Director Edward J. DeMarco today sent to...

CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION BUREAU CONVENES SMALL BUSINESS PANEL FOR KNOW BEFORE YOU OWE mortgage DISCLOSURES

Panel is Bureau’s First Under Small Business Regulatory Enforcement Fairness Act

 WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is announcing today the formation of a Small Business Review Panel as part of its i...

The economic recovery was once again reinforced this week with the majority of data continuing to point towards growth.  Retail Sales rose a solid .7% showing that consumers are continuing to increase spending long after the holiday season has ended.

The Housing Market Index, which is a report, released by the National Association of Home Builders...

A proposal to hike guarantee fees on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac for the second time in two months was floated Wednesday night during negotiations over a $150 billion bill that would extend the payroll tax deduction and unemployment benefits.

However, a g-fee hike does not seem to be part of the package that...

By Larry Baer, Market Alert

Believe it or not — the Greek financial drama continues.

Greece is now expressing hope that it will wrap up a “deal” on Monday with the European Union and International Monetary Fund to secure funds to avoid a default on its sovereign debt.  A number of deadlines have come and gone as past backsliding by ...

By Richard J. Andreano, Jr., on February 15th, 2012 Posted in MortgagesThe CFPB now wants comments on a prototype monthly mortgage statement.  The form already has been through one round of testing, and two more rounds are planned.

Despite industry opposition, the Dodd-Frank Act included a...

By Larry Baer, Market Alert

The Greek financial drama continues.

European Union and International Monetary Fund finance officials cancelled a meeting today at which most observers believed the long awaited Greek debt bailout agreement would be signed.  The finance ministers said they had yet to receive written pledges from all Greek political party ...

By Larry Baer, Market Alert

The most significant influence on the trend trajectory of mortgage interest rates this week will be Greek headlines.

In the face of social unrest and rioting the Greek Parliament has approved austerity measures that have taken the country one step closer to securing a bailout package that will help it avoid financial...