Underwriting

The availability of some loans used to build homes dried up due to the coronavirus. Opening up the economy may help if it doesn't lead to a spike in infections, and if consumer demand persists.

Mortgage rates are at record lows, but borrowers hoping to take advantage are running into the toughest loan-approval standards in years.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency authorized the government-sponsored enterprises to lend additional support to the mortgage-backed securities market and temporarily allow some flexibility in lending requirements to address coronavirus-related concerns.

Banks' lowering of origination fees and loosening of underwriting standards often foreshadow a downturn.

Now that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau says it will scrap an unpopular standard for so-called qualified mortgages, the big question is what will take its place.

After maintaining a $250,000 exemption threshold for real estate appraisals for nearly 20 years, the National Credit Union Administration is set to raise that limit to $400,000.

Director Kathy Kraninger has told lawmakers that the agency will delay the expiration of the so-called QM patch, now set for January 2021.

The housing market has changed dramatically since 2002 but the current appraisal limit has not. It's time for NCUA to catch up.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac’s exemption from the Qualified Mortgage rule is on borrowed time, but a House bill would allow lenders to use the mortgage giants’ guidelines for documenting borrower income.

Regulators should consider online lending and a list of what loans qualify for CRA credit in any revamp of the outdated law.