Census Bureau: New Data Tools and Apps to Be Revealed at Technology Demo Day on November 29th
What: The U.S. Census Bureau will showcase 12 new innovative projects at an interagency demonstration day created through a federal initiative called The Opportunity Project (TOP). These new tools address problems such as youth and veteran homelessness, engaging hard-to-count populations in the decennial census and making federal grants data user-friendly. TOP is a collaborative effort…
SBA: Shop “Small” this Saturday
SBA Administrator Linda McMahon calls on Americans to shop local small businesses on Saturday, November 25 Linda McMahon, Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, is reminding Americans that shopping on Small Business Saturday supports America’s thriving small businesses. “Small Business Saturday is about supporting local businesses and creating jobs in communities all across America,”…
FHFA: 2018 Multifamily Lending Caps for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Announced
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that the 2018 multifamily lending caps for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will be $35 billion for each Enterprise, down from $36.5 billion in 2017. The caps are based on projections of the overall size of the 2018 multifamily originations market, which FHFA expects to…
Joint Release: Agencies Amend CRA Regulations to Conform to HMDA Regulation Changes and Remove References to the Neighborhood Stabilization Program
The federal bank regulatory agencies have amended their respective Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) regulations primarily to conform to changes made by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) to Regulation C, which implements the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA). Since 1995, the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, and…
CFPB: Identification of Language Preference on the Uniform Residential Loan Application
The Bureau issued an official approval of the final redesigned Uniform Residential Loan Application (URLA), which will include a question about mortgage applicants’ language preference starting as early as July 2019. The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) directed Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to add this question to the URLA, which is a form that…
CFPB: VA Refinancing Offers that Sound Too Good to Be True
By Patrick Campbell and Anthony Vail – NOV 20, 2017 Situation The CFPB and VA are issuing their first WARNO, “Warning Order,” to servicemembers and veterans with VA home loans. If you have a VA home loan, then there is a good chance that you have already come into contact with unsolicited offers to refinance…
Joint Release: Agencies Announce Threshold for Smaller Loan Exemption from Appraisal Requirements for Higher-Priced Mortgage Loans
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) today announced that the threshold for exempting loans from special appraisal requirements for higher-priced mortgage loans during 2018 will increase from $25,500 to $26,000. The threshold amount will be effective January 1,…
FEMA: Resources for Smart Rebuilding After Hurricane Irma
If your property was damaged by Hurricane Irma, there are resources available to help you build back stronger and safer to prevent damage from future disasters. Start repairs to make your home safe and livable again as soon as possible. Get a building permit from your local building department before beginning structural work. As you…
ABA: National Judges Set to Select 2017-2018 Lights, Camera, Save! Winners
Teen Video Contest Accepting Entries through Dec. 1 WASHINGTON – The American Bankers Association Foundation has announced its Lights, Camera, Save! national judging panel, along with the list of 157 participating banks, who will hold 173 contests in 45 states through Dec. 1. Contest winners will be announced during America Saves Week 2018. The Lights,…
HUD: $5 Billion Provided to Help Texas Recover from Hurricane Harvey
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development today awarded $5.024 billion to help hard-hit areas in the State of Texas to recover from Hurricane Harvey. The grant announced today by the Trump Administration is provided through HUD’s Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) Program and will support the repair of damaged homes,…