FHFA: Public Input Sought on Fannie Mae’s and Freddie Mac’s Proposed Duty to Serve Underserved Market Plans for 2025-2027
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today issued a request for input (RFI) on the proposed 2025-2027 Underserved Markets Plans (Plans) submitted by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) under the Duty to Serve (DTS) program. The proposed Plans cover the period from January 1, 2025, to December 31, 2027. “Providing sustainable liquidity for affordable housing…
CFPB: Rule Proposed to Ban Medical Bills from Credit Reports
Rule would remove as much as $49 billion of medical debts that unjustly lowers credit scores for 15 million Americans The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today proposed a rule that would remove medical bills from most credit reports, increase privacy protections, help to increase credit scores and loan approvals, and prevent debt collectors from…
SBA: Working Capital Loan Pilot Program Launched
Pilot Program Expands Small Businesses’ Access to Credit Lines That Create Jobs, Spur Sales and Growth Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced the 7(a) Working Capital Pilot (WCP) Program. The WCP offers a newly structured…
HUD: Deal Finalized to Promote Energy Efficiency and Climate Resilience for New York Families
The transaction is funded by the Inflation Reduction Act as part of President Biden’s Investing in America agenda to provide more comfortable homes for families. Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Office of Multifamily Housing Programs, announced it has completed a $192,000 loan transaction under the Green and Resilient Retrofit Program…
HUD: New FHA Loan Program Launched to Invest in Manufactured Home Communities
New program offers affordable financing for organizations to purchase or refinance and revitalize manufactured home communities to lower housing costs across the country. Today, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA), announced the launch of its new Manufactured Home Community loan product, which will provide an FHA-insured financing option for…
CFPB: Agency Warns Against Deception in Contract Fine Print
Companies using illegal or unenforceable terms and conditions risk breaking the law The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today issued a circular warning against the use of unlawful or unenforceable terms and conditions in contracts for consumer financial products or services. Companies use this fine print tactic to try to trick consumers into believing they have given…
Agencies Issue Host State Loan-to-Deposit Ratios
Federal bank regulatory agencies today jointly issued updated host state loan-to-deposit ratios that are used to evaluate compliance with the Riegle-Neal Interstate Banking and Branching Efficiency Act. Each respective host state loan-to-deposit ratio shows the ratio of total loans in a state to total deposits in the state for all banks that have that state…
SBA: New Actions and Resources Announced to Advance Clean Energy Economy
SBA Removes Cap on Loans for Clean Energy Projects Today, Administrator Isabel Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice in President Biden’s Cabinet for America’s more than 33 million small businesses, announced that the agency has removed its 504 Loan Program’s cap on lending for clean energy projects as part of broader…
CFPB: Inquiry Launched into Junk Fees in Mortgage Closing Costs
Rising fees are draining down payments, pushing homeownership out of reach The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) today launched a public inquiry into junk fees that are increasing mortgage closing costs. The CFPB wants to understand why closing costs are increasing, who is benefiting, and how costs for borrowers and lenders could be lowered. According to a CFPB…
FHFA: Enhancements Announced to Flex Modification for Borrowers Facing Financial Hardship
The Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) today announced that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac (the Enterprises) will enhance their Flex Modification policies to allow more borrowers facing longer-term hardships to achieve meaningful payment reductions. The updated Flex Modification policies will promote sustainable homeownership and the safety and soundness of the Enterprises. “The Enterprises have completed over half a million modifications through their Flex Modification offerings since…