Affordable housing

Analyzed from a property rights perspective, the dividends paid by the Federal Home Loan banks to their members are surprisingly stingy, and vary wildly between the different banks.

Top Federal Home Loan bank officials said they fear the Federal Housing Finance Agency will use supervision to further the goals of last year's report recommending reforms to the Home Loan Bank System.

The Biden administration's proposal to waive title insurance requirements for mortgage lenders would undercut an efficient system that offers homebuyers important protections.

Banks and other private lenders could help ease the liquidity crisis facing some companies that service Ginnie Mae mortgages, but are currently prevented from doing so by the agency's rules. A simple fix would benefit everyone involved.

The Congressional Budget Office report on the Home Loan banks illustrates the ways the nearly 100-year-old system is integral to the U.S. economy, and its benefits for American consumers.

The questions about whether the Home Loan banks receive a public subsidy has been settled. All that remains is for lawmakers to take steps to redirect that subsidy toward public benefits rather than corporate profits.

The FHFA's Home Loan bank report is that rare thing you never see in the nation's capital anymore — a balanced plan on a complex issue that could have lasting impact on a difficult problem.

New federal standards for responsible lending should trigger a surge of new capital into underserved communities, as concerns about reputational risk are allayed.

The banks' resistance to changes being recommended by the Federal Housing Finance Agency do not bode well for their future or that of the industry.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency's report on the system at 100 years old signals major shifts in both policy and structure are on the horizon.

Amplify Credit Union in Austin provided funding for the construction of 28 tiny homes to create more affordable housing in Round Rock, Texas. Several banks had previously shot down the project.

The San Antonio-based lender is introducing new products targeted at borrowers who make less than 80% of their county's median income. The loans, which will qualify for Community Reinvestment Act credit, could help expand access to the state's increasingly expensive housing market.

The Federal Housing Administration could increase the limits for loans it insures in this market, a congressional oversight agency said in a new report.

A movement is afoot to transfer the job of the Federal Home Loan banks to the Federal Reserve. This would be a disaster for small lenders.

Limiting large-bank access to the system could have an unintended negative impact on smaller banks.

Between 2004 and 2021, the share of originations under $150,000 has declined by 70%, forcing a growing number of consumers to seek alternative forms of financing instead of getting a mortgage, a Pew Charitable Trusts report found.

We have the tools to address our housing challenges through a mix of regulatory reforms, policy changes, incentives and investment. What's needed is the will and leadership to put those tools to work.

Bank of America had a 55% increase in new clients in May, and the lender is planning to bulk up staffing to keep up with demand. 

As the Federal Housing Finance Agency considers how to prepare the system for the future, it can keep member liquidity steady while still boosting affordable housing.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency head has said: "The status quo is not acceptable." She could not be more correct.