Mortgages

While the designation of the retired neuroscientist Ben Carson to run the Department of Housing and Urban Development appears to be an unusual choice, lenders are hoping he can bring a fresh perspective to the industry.

Steven Mnuchin's confirmation hearing is likely to be dogged by stories of homeowners who claim his bank, OneWest, illegally foreclosed on them. While the stories are unlikely to prevent President-elect Donald J. Trump's pick from being confirmed, it could weaken Mnuchin politically and rehash grievances from the financial crisis.

Privatizing the government-sponsored enterprises is a priority for Treasury Secretary-designate Steven Mnuchin. Here's a look at what it will take to pull off and the potential implications for the mortgage industry of unwinding the conservatorship.

Treasury Secretary-designate Steven Mnuchin's plan to remove Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from government control could mean increased competition for lenders' loans. But it could also prompt a rise in mortgage rates.

Some banks are set to get a fourth-quarter earnings boost from their MSR portfolios, thanks to a sudden spike in yields on Treasury bonds. Add to that the prospect of further rate hikes and the potential dismantling of Basel III, and more banks could be encouraged to re-enter the servicing business.

For its commitment to improving the long-term health of depositors, and a nimble, failure-is-not-a-dirty-word approach to innovation, USAA has earned an honor American Banker normally bestows on a single individual.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency's decision to raise conforming loan limits in 2016 for the first time in a decade is being met with enthusiasm from the mortgage industry, as it should prove to be a positive for future origination volume.

President-elect Donald Trump said in a tweet Tuesday that he is considering Dr. Ben Carson – one of his opponents in the Republican primary – to head the Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Ally Financial in Detroit has agreed to pay $52 million to settle probes and claims related to its role as the underwriter for subprime residential mortgage-backed securities in 2006 and 2007.

The Federal Communications Commission has denied a request to exempt servicers from getting consent before robo-calling borrowers' mobile phones, rejecting arguments that the waiver would enable the mortgage industry to better help delinquent borrowers.