Consumer complaints filed with the CFPB regarding mortgages hit a record low in the final quarter of 2019, with double-digit declines in two categories. (Includes two data charts.)

The CFPB granted a no-action letter to Bank of America regarding its funding arrangement with HUD-certified housing counseling agencies. It marks the second no-action letter under the revised policy.

The bureau has picked a longtime critic to chair its task force to review federal consumer financial laws. The move has consumer advocates up in arms.

A Fed governor introduced the metric-based approach to reform the Community Reinvestment Act, which would assess mortgage lending to both low- and moderate-income borrowers and LMI communities.

The consumer watchdog sued two mortgage-related companies for allegedly selling credit reports they obtained under false pretenses to debt relief companies for their marketing purposes.

Senate Democrats urged the inspector general to investigate standards the bureau uses to calculate consumer restitution.

The Conference of State Bank Supervisors’ fintech initiatives, while focusing mainly on consumer lending, will ultimately benefit nonbank mortgage firms.

The next few years might be even more challenging for mall loans backing commercial MBS, with refinancing seen as difficult and delinquencies ticking up, according to rating agencies.

The stock market boomed in 2019 and mortgage stocks followed right along. Mortgage insurance equities had nice gains but the top performers were Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. (Includes data chart.)