Industries

WASHINGTON — Lenders are moving too quickly to return to the loose underwriting standards that caused the housing crisis, according to a report released Tuesday by the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency.

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mel Watt's decision Thursday to stand up the affordable housing trust funds sharply divided lawmakers along party lines, with Democrats welcoming the decision as overdue while Republicans denounced it as a mistake.

After a six-year delay, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will finally begin setting aside a portion of their revenues to fund the development of rental housing for low-income families.

Officials at Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae all heaped praise on nonbank mortgage lenders for stepping up to provide loans for home purchases at a time when many banks have scaled back.

New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman today announced the launch of a financial consumer education web app called AGScamHelp.

While banks have pretty much taken down the help wanted signs in their branches and loan offices, there is one position that many can't fill fast enough: the commercial real estate workout specialist.