Affordable housing

For decades, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac helped working-class Americans get mortgages. That essential and powerful role in the national economy is fading.

The FHFA is allowing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to invest in the credits for the first time since they entered conservatorship. Its purpose is to promote affordable housing in underserved markets.

Housing advocates are pressing Senate Republicans to expand the low-income housing tax credit program while pushing back against a House GOP plan that would eliminate financing for half of all affordable housing units.

In light of the recent disbursement of nearly $40 million in grants to credit unions from The Treasury Department’s Community Development Financial Institutions Fund, Credit Union Journal surveyed some credit unions which have received CDFI grants in the past to find out how these funds are being used.

The prospect of a lower corporate rate resulting from looming tax reform discussions may be a blessing for the industry, but it could be bittersweet for one particular group of bankers.

While Freddie Mac is moving cautiously into buying manufactured housing loans not secured by land, Fannie Mae is moving more aggressively. Industry representatives are divided on which approach is superior.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency made just incremental changes to two of the seven affordable housing benchmarks.

Both parties appear interested in a deal on housing finance reform, but tough fights are ahead.

President Trump has nominated Paul Compton, an Alabama attorney with affordable housing experience, to serve as general counsel for HUD.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac issued proposals Monday to create pilot programs for loans on mobile homes, part of an ambitious plan for underserved and rural housing markets.