Mortgage lending industry representatives were unanimous in their view that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s ability-to-repay rule and “qualified mortgage” standard, as currently constituted, may severely restrict access to mortgage credit on multiple levels. Testifying earlier this week before the House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit, James Gardill, chairman of the board of WesBanco, Inc., said on behalf of the American Bankers Association that the QM rule will limit mortgage lending because the QM guidelines narrow lending parameters. “Even within the QM framework, many concerns remain that could limit credit availability to a diverse group of consumers,” Gardill said. Debra Still, chairman of the Mortgage Bankers Association, said...

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac would be wound down and terminated in the housing finance system of the future that combines greater private sector participation with a clearly delineated emergency government backstop, according to a reform plan released this week by four industry experts. Sponsored by the Milken Institute, the Urban Institute and Moody’s Analytics, the “Pragmatic Plan for Housing Finance Reform” would see the government play an “explicit and transparent” role to cover catastrophic losses but with an emphasis on mortgage funding diversity. The authors envision...

Because of the "qualified mortgage" rule WesBanco may kill a charitable home loan program that has been in place since 1951.

In addition to having the most failed metrics, CitiMortgage was found to be in “widespread” noncompliance with the timeliness requirement to notify a borrower of any missing documents in his modification application.

While some banks have started to securitize jumbo mortgages, the vast majority of jumbo originations remain in portfolio.

Thanks to rising interest rates, now may be the time for Flagstar to sell a huge block of servicing.

Yet another plan to reshape the mortgage market has been published, this one from noted housing economist Mark Zandi, and Ellen Seidman, once the nation's top S&L regulator.

MBA pushes for GSE AU engines to be synchronized. Meanwhile, a factoid of mortgage history: Treasury chief Paulson wanted Fannie and Freddie put in receivership.

With rates rising and refis falling, will certain mortgage companies head for the exits? And if they do, will they get too greedy on the sale price?

The treatment of balloon loans under new federal rules is one example where regulation is taking a broad brush approach that disadvantages community banks.