Regulatory

MBA Pitches Housing Affordability Options

jdohnert@imfpubs.com — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:58:00 -0400

The Mortgage Bankers Association launched a housing affordability action plan with 20 policies that can help reduce the cost of housing "with the stroke of a pen."

AI Mortgage Originations Without an LO Face Complications

sclark@imfpubs.com — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:57:00 -0400

It's unclear if mortgages can be fully AI-originated and still comply with state and federal laws.

Short Takes: Pulte Skips MBA Conference / Rates Projected to Hit 7.85% / UWM’s Share Price Nears $1.00 / State Regulators Looking for Feedback on MLO Testing

bivey@imfpubs.com — Tue, 13 Oct 2026 11:55:00 -0400

Pulte's planned speaking spot at the MBA conference went from in-person to virtual to canceled.

HUD Investigates Wells Fargo Over Race-Based Lending

sclark@imfpubs.com — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:57:00 -0400

Nikitra Bailey, executive vice president of the National Fair Housing Alliance, sharply criticized the investigation.

Short Takes: Lenders Want Uniform Standards for ROV / TransUnion Offers First Look Program / loanDepot Gets Funding From Nomura / AGNC Maintains Dividend Level for October

bivey@imfpubs.com — Thu, 08 Oct 2026 11:55:00 -0400

Trade groups said aligning ROV policies across mortgage programs would be preferable.

Trigger Leads Rarely Led to Loans Prior to Restrictions

bivey@imfpubs.com — Wed, 07 Oct 2026 11:57:00 -0400

At most, 3.5% of mortgage borrowers in recent years opted for a lender they found via a trigger lead, according to estimates by the Government Accountability Office.

MISMO’s AI Framework Aims to Shield Mortgage Companies

sclark@imfpubs.com — Tue, 06 Oct 2026 11:57:00 -0400

"Let’s go out and be proactive and demonstrate that we can govern ourselves effectively," said Brian Vieaux, president of MISMO.

Experts Warn of Growing AI Fraud Risks

sclark@imfpubs.com — Mon, 05 Oct 2026 11:57:00 -0400

Artificial intelligence technology is creating new risks for mortgage lenders, according to experts speaking at a recent Mortgage Bankers Association conference.

FHFA IG Blasts Budget Cut, Massive Layoffs Likely

bivey@imfpubs.com — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:58:00 -0400

James Hodge, FHFA’s acting principal deputy inspector general, said the OIG is likely going to have to reduce its staff by upwards of 80% due to the reduced funding and the OIG will cease criminal investigations.

Short Takes: Interest Rates Jump 25 BP in a Week / FHA Moves Forward With UAD 3.6 / FHFA OIG Explains Difference in Funding Level / The Loan Store Rebrands to Averra Financial

bivey@imfpubs.com — Fri, 02 Oct 2026 11:55:00 -0400

The average interest rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage hit 7.28% Thursday, according to Freddie Mac.

FHA Commissioner Nominee Jones Targets Cost Reductions

ewilley@imfpubs.com — Thu, 01 Oct 2026 11:58:00 -0400

Matt Jones, the Trump administration’s nominee for commissioner of FHA, plans to continue to work to reduce mortgage costs and housing costs if confirmed for the position.

FHFA Eliminates Haircut on VS4 Scores With GSEs

dhollier@imfpubs.com — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:59:00 -0400

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will use the same LLPA pricing grid for both VantageScore 4.0 and Classic FICO, eliminating the 20-point haircut they were applying to VS4 loans.

Court Dismisses Lawsuit by Former HUD Office of Fair Housing Attorneys

bivey@imfpubs.com — Tue, 29 Sep 2026 11:56:00 -0400

The district court sided with the Trump administration, determining that the employees failed to plausibly allege a claim for retaliation under the Fair Housing Act.

Judge Sides With State AGs in CFPB Funding Lawsuit

jdohnert@imfpubs.com — Mon, 28 Sep 2026 11:56:00 -0400

California AG Rob Bonta said on Friday that the court’s decision was “a giant win for consumers.”

Reasonable Payments Advised for RESPA Compliance

sclark@imfpubs.com — Tue, 22 Sep 2026 11:57:00 -0400

Settlement service companies must demonstrate that the goods and services are actual, necessary and distinct, and that payment is commensurate with the value of services and goods.

FHLBanks Expand MPF Program Guidelines

jdohnert@imfpubs.com — Mon, 21 Sep 2026 11:58:00 -0400

The enhanced guidelines include qualifying mortgages originated through affordable lending programs, loans for manufactured homes, home improvement and renovation financing, and lender-funded affordable housing assistance programs.

Senate Committee Advances Johnson’s CFPB Director Nomination

sclark@imfpubs.com — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:58:00 -0400

Brian Johnson could be confirmed in a matter of a few weeks, according to an industry attorney.

Real Estate Fraud Rising, FBI Lacking Resources

ewilley@imfpubs.com — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 11:57:00 -0400

NAR attempted to recruit the help of the Federal Bureau of Investigation to crack down on fraud, but was told the bureau didn’t have the resources to pursue the patchwork of cases across the country.

Pulte Turns Focus to Private MI Profits

dhollier@imfpubs.com — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:57:00 -0400

Seth Appleton, president of USMI, promptly announced the PMI trade group’s support for Pulte’s efforts to align the GSEs’ policy regarding mortgage insurance.

Short Takes: Pennymac More Aggressive With Loan Limit for 2027 / Applications Tumble / Beyond Credit Union / CDFI Fund Pays Out, With Scrutiny / Aven Partners With NHL Team

bivey@imfpubs.com — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 11:55:00 -0400

Pennymac set a conforming loan limit of $850,000 for one-unit properties across the lender’s production channels.

Industry Trade Groups Support Republican Effort to Reform CFPB

sclark@imfpubs.com — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 11:57:00 -0400

Former CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger said a new bill from Republicans in the House will “protect consumers while providing certainty that is necessary for responsible institutions to serve their customers and innovate.”

Short Takes: Pulte Frustrated by Credit Bureaus / Interest Rates Rise to Highest Level Thus Far in 2026 / Better Rejects Garg’s Turnaround Plan

bivey@imfpubs.com — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 11:55:00 -0400

FHFA director Bill Pulte expressed frustration that the credit bureaus haven’t sufficiently engaged in reform talks with FHFA, accusing them of “cartel-like” behavior.

House Republicans Introduce Bill With Major Reforms to CFPB

sclark@imfpubs.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:57:00 -0400

H.R. 10184, the Consumer Financial Protection Accountability and Reform Act, would bring the CFPB under the congressional appropriations process, require cost-benefit analyses for rulemakings and stipulate periodic reviews of major rules to ensure their benefits justify their costs.

Ishbia Expects Changes Around Edges for GSE LLPAs, TRID

bivey@imfpubs.com — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:56:00 -0400

Ishbia said it’s unlikely that changes to LLPAs will be “massive” or across the board.

Pew Calls for More Mortgages, Fewer Land Contracts

bivey@imfpubs.com — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:57:00 -0400

Land contracts lack protections that apply to mortgages and often carry worse terms for homebuyers than mortgages, the Pew Charitable Trusts noted.

GSE Condo Rule Update May Drive More Non-QM Production

azimmardi@imfpubs.com — Tue, 01 Sep 2026 11:56:00 -0400

Stricter condo lending standards at Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac could drive some borrowers to the non-agency market.

Federal Agencies Rescind SPCP Authorization

dhollier@imfpubs.com — Fri, 28 Aug 2026 11:59:36 -0400

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to end support for special purpose credit programs earlier this year. But now other agencies are also ending authorization for the programs.

Lenders Increasingly Leverage AI for Compliance

sclark@imfpubs.com — Tue, 25 Aug 2026 11:57:00 -0400

AI is being used across the compliance process to make reviews more efficient, according to industry experts who spoke on a podcast hosted by the Conference of State Bank Supervisors.

Another Round of Firings at Fannie Mae

dhollier@imfpubs.com — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:58:00 -0400

Pulte-led Federal Housing Finance Agency presides over further reductions in the senior staff at Fannie Mae, terminating as many as a dozen executives last week.

Industry Groups Raise Concerns as New Condo Rules Go Into Effect

dhollier@imfpubs.com — Mon, 24 Aug 2026 11:57:00 -0400

Industry groups — including the Community Associations Institute, the Community Home Lenders of America and the National Association of Realtors — made their displeasure about the change to condo loan applications known in a recent joint letter to Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Bill Pulte.