Regulation

Freddie Mac has long struggled to compete with larger rival Fannie Mae because the former's mortgage-backed securities trade at a discount to the latter's. Their new regulator may change that.

Seven years after the onset of the housing crisis, many homeowners continue to face unfair and unnecessary foreclosures. Regulators can help remedy the situation by prioritizing greater transparency in mortgage relief and securing funding for housing counselors and legal advocates.

An internal report released Monday showed "statistically significant disparities" in staff evaluations based not just on race, but also age, location tenure, and whether staffers were part of the agency's union. The agency intends to pay between $5 million and $5.5 million to affected employees.

New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman on Monday renewed calls for the state legislature to address the problem of "zombie properties," or foreclosed homes that banks have walked away from to avoid the cost of maintenance.

A new Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. report says agricultural lending by banks in areas with a declining customer base gave those institutions an advantage in weathering the downturn.

WePay's decision to halt a crowdfunding initiative for an adult film actress struck a nerve as payments companies are seen distancing themselves from people in the adult entertainment industry.

Mary Miller, a top Treasury official, on Monday sought to dispel the idea that regulators were moving quickly to label asset management firms as systemically important, saying they are still in the early stages of determining the risks posed by the industry.

Regulators' recent moves to encourage mortgage lenders to relax standards have reignited a contentious debate.

Banks that fail to comply with employment regulations leave themselves open to expensive lawsuits and bruised reputations.

San Antonio Mayor Julian Castro is in line to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development, part of an administration reshuffling that would bring a Democratic up-and-comer to President Barack Obama's cabinet.