The tax overhaul's impact on the housing market? It's complicated.

Apr 16, 2019
Research by the New York Fed connects the two.
Photo by Tim Boyle/Getty Images

FHA tightens standards on insuring home loans

Mar 25, 2019
The Federal Housing Administration is growing concerned that lenders are allowing some first-time home buyers to take on too much risk. Earlier this month, the FHA told lenders that it will flag more loans as high risk, and raise the hurdle some borrowers must jump for FHA-backed loans. Click the audio player above to hear […]
The reflection of blue skies and palm trees are seen in the window of a Countrywide banking and home loans location offering reverse mortgages in Sun City, Arizona.
RICHARD A. BROOKS/AFP/Getty Images

What layoffs in the mortgage industry say about our economy

Nov 16, 2018
It’s been a year of transition for Wells Fargo after a series of scandals in its consumer banking business. The company’s paid billions of dollars in penalties and just announced it’s cutting 900 jobs in its mortgage division. The job cuts are part of a big restructuring plan the bank announced back in September, with […]

Re-Fi? Standby … Rates are not great right now

Oct 19, 2018
Five years ago, refinancing made up 75 percent of the mortgage business. Today, it’s just around 37 percent. With climbing interest rates, demand has dipped and the mortgage industry is poised to shed jobs. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

Re-Fi? Standby … Rates are not great right now

Oct 19, 2018
Five years ago, refinancing made up 75 percent of the mortgage business. Today, it’s just around 37 percent. With climbing interest rates, demand has dipped and the mortgage industry is poised to shed jobs. Click the audio player above to hear the full story. 

Mortgage rates hit highest level in 7+ years

Oct 12, 2018
It’s getting more expensive to get a mortgage. Data out this week from Freddie Mac shows the average 30-year fixed-rate mortgage is 4.9 percent. That’s the highest it’s been in seven years. What does that mean for prospective home buyers?   

For public good, not for profit.

At $6 trillion, "tappable" home equity reaches new high

Sep 26, 2018
So far, homeowners are resisting cashing out.
David McNew/Getty Images

House approves partial rollback of some Dodd-Frank regulations. Are we ready?

May 22, 2018
The House of Representatives Tuesday approved a bill that dials back some of the banking regulations put in place after the financial crisis. Among other things, it raises the threshold for which banks are considered to be big (“systemically important financial institutions,” as they are called). It also reduces some reporting requirements for banks regarding […]