News By Edition

Painting a portrait of what the housing market will look like a year in the future is a tall order. However, knowing what variables are likely to shape the big picture can be exceedingly helpful. First American Financial Corp. Chief Economist Mark Fleming sat down with Dodd Frank Update during the Mortgage Bankers Association’s 2025 annual conference in Las Vegas to discuss what real estate finance professionals should keep an eye on during the months ahead.

The Trump administration declared the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to be illegally funded in a motion filed in federal court. If the court agrees, the agency could be shuttered when its cash reserves run out in early 2026.

The National Treasury Employees Union challenged the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s assertion that it may have to shut down operations early next year due to a lack of funding. The union’s court filing came the same week the consumer watchdog announced its intent to continue supervisory activities on a limited basis in 2026.

Dodd Frank Update sat down with Tom Morelli and Larry Huff of mortgage technology provider Wilqo to talk about how automated systems can be not only a driver of cost savings, but for workforce development as well.

Outamation, a mortgage automation and digital transformation company, recently announced the launch of OutamateMods Retention, a comprehensive solution that enables banks and financial institutions to efficiently execute competitive-rate loan modifications on portfolios they own.

In 2026, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will require its examiners to begin supervisory activities by reading a “humility in supervisions pledge” meant to convey the message that the new examination cycle will be “fundamentally different” from those conducted under past leadership.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency announced an increase in conforming loan limit values for mortgages eligible for purchase by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in 2026, commensurate with annualized changes in the average U.S. home price.

MISMO finalized a new Credit Score Implementation Guide and Credit Score Model Name Document following a thorough review by a wide range of organizations and industry participants.

The three federal bank regulatory agencies issued proposed changes to the community bank leverage ratio framework in accordance with statutory authority and requested public input from affected stakeholders.

A federal judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia dismissed a two-count indictment against New York Attorney General Letitia James for alleged mortgage fraud, saying the prosecutor who presented the case to the grand jury was unlawfully appointed.

Newly released details about the Federal Reserve’s plans to enhance its bank supervisory approach shed some light on the specific types of material financial stability risks the agency is hoping to address.

The Senate Banking Committee voted 13-11 to advance Travis Hill’s nomination to become the permanent chairman of the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Multiple trade organizations representing the financial services industry have called for his expeditious confirmation.

MISMO, the real estate finance industry’s standards organization, announced its new “Federal Government Housing Agency Servicing Dataset” has been published as part of its partnership with the Department of Veterans Affairs Loan Guaranty Service.

The House Financial Services Committee held a hearing titled “The Future of Deposit Insurance: Exploring the Coverage, Costs, and Depositor Confidence” on Nov. 18 to discuss the best courses of action for the U.S. deposit insurance system.

A U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia judge dismissed the indictment against New York Attorney General Letitia James on two charges of mortgage fraud, saying the prosecutor who presented the case to the grand jury was unlawfully appointed.

Alpha7X, an agentic artificial intelligence (AI) utility infrastructure designed to connect, validate and synchronize mortgage data and eliminate redundant loan reviews, has appointed three senior executives to its leadership team.

NewDay USA announced the launch of its Admiral Certification program, describing it as a first-of-its-kind national credential for real estate agents who serve Veterans and Service Members looking to buy a home using loans backed by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

A federal court denied an effort to block enforcement of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s final rule on Property Assessed Clean Energy, applicable to loans issued to homeowners to improve energy efficiency or disaster-readiness. The court expedited the schedule for a final resolution to the matter.

President Donald Trump nominated Stuart Levenbach to become the new permanent director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on Nov. 19. Levenbach has served in various roles with the federal government since joining the Office of Management and Budget in 2007.

The latest audit of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s information security systems revealed weaknesses that could expose sensitive financial data to bad actors, according to the Office of the Inspector General for the Federal Reserve System.

Brian Zitin, co-founder and CEO of Reggora, which provides a software platform for mortgage lenders and appraisal vendors, shared some insight regarding the company’s “24-Hour Appraisal.” He expects it to have a significant impact on turn times and to streamline the entire process for lenders and appraisers.

For the second time this year, the California Department of Financial Protection and Innovation finalized a consent order against a mortgage company accused of overcharging borrowers.

Flagstar Financial, Inc., agreed to pay $31.5 million to consumers who filed a class action lawsuit, claiming the bank failed to protect their personally identifying information in a pair of data breaches.

The Mortgage Bankers Association’s Builder Application Survey for October demonstrated the distinction between seasonally adjusted and unadjusted numbers when evaluating mortgage purchase data.

The Trump administration declared the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau to be illegally funded in a motion filed in federal court. If the court agrees, the agency could be shuttered when its cash reserves run out in early 2026. Dodd Frank Update spoke with legal experts who analyzed the administration’s argument.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published a notice of proposed rulemaking to address ambiguity in rules applying Equal Credit Opportunity Act provisions when assessing creditors’ lending decisions, including eliminating references to “disparate impact.”

Simon Blackburn, MtgeFI founder and CEO, recently discussed how the government-sponsored enterprises drive most mortgage appraisal volume and effectively set industry standards.

As homebuyers come to expect real estate transactions to flow more seamlessly and quickly than ever before, integrating instant payments into the process may no longer be optional for lenders and settlement services providers.

The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) announced the deputy director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement for the Northeast Region will conclude her tenure with the agency in December.

Rosegate Mortgage, LLC, a retail and consumer-direct mortgage lender headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., has been acquired by a private investment firm specializing in mortgage servicing rights based in Minneapolis.

As the U.S. Treasury prepares to implement a law many view as laying the groundwork for the future of stablecoin regulation, several organizations representing the financial services industry offered recommendations for doing so in a safe and sound manner that would not harm consumers or disrupt the banking ecosystem.

The Trump administration floated the concept of introducing a 50-year mortgage loan option as a move to help combat affordability challenges in the housing market. The idea has been met with skepticism from mortgage industry insiders, as well as political backlash.

Dodd Frank Update explored some of the potential implications of the government shutdown and shifting approaches to credit scoring with a pair of industry insiders at the Mortgage Bankers Association’s 2025 annual conference.

A federal judge rejected the terms of a $425 million deal proposed by Capital One Financial Corp. to settle allegations of deceptive marketing practices associated with the company’s 360 Savings accounts.

The Senate voted 60-40 to advance legislation to end the federal government shutdown as it stretched past the 40-day mark, making it the longest in U.S. history. The continuing resolution will need House approval to be enacted and for government operations to resume.

Atlantic Coast Mortgage, LLC, is set to acquire a Virginia-based mortgage lender in a strategic move for both companies.

The Federal Housing Finance Agency’s proposal to reduce key housing benchmarks for low-income communities met with mixed reactions from stakeholders. While some viewed the proposal favorably, many worried about the agency’s reliance on anecdotal evidence rather than data to justify its plans, among other concerns.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in October terminated a consent order against Citibank for allegedly discriminating against borrowers based on their national origin. The termination notice was one of more than 20 issued by the bureau this year.

First American Financial Corp. Senior Economist Sam Williamson said he was “cautiously optimistic” that existing home sales will “rise gradually” in the fourth quarter.

Despite continued affordability challenges, 60 percent of respondents to Solidifi’s 2025 Consumer Mortgage Experience Survey indicated they planned to make a real estate move within the next three to five years.

Heartland Bank and Trust's holding company announced plans to acquire CNB Bank Shares, Inc, to expand their operations in Illinois, Missouri and Iowa.

The Federal Reserve finalized changes to its supervisory rating framework for large bank holding companies. The new framework contains notable revisions to the criteria for categorizing a bank as “well-managed.”

Wiley, a nationally recognized privacy, cyber and data governance practice, announced that Erin Joe has joined the firm as special counsel. Joe has served in senior leadership roles at the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and in the private sector.

For the second time this year, a federal court granted a stay request from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau regarding its Personal Financial Data Rights rule. The latest stay will delay compliance dates associated with the rule implementing Sec. 1033 of the Dodd-Frank Act.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau issued an interpretive rule asserting that federal laws preempt state laws concerning Federal Credit Reporting Act standards, including the reporting of medical debt on consumer credit reports.

Citigroup Inc. and the cryptocurrency exchange platform Coinbase Global Inc. announced plans to collaborate on digital asset payment capabilities as both companies seek to solidify their roles as leaders in the payment solutions marketplace.

The Federal Reserve is seeking public feedback concerning proposals intended to enhance the transparency and public accountability of its annual bank stress test.

The Federal Reserve voted to lower the federal funds target rate by 1/4 percentage point to a range between 3-3/4 to 4 percent. Fed Chair Jerome Powell said the cut may help address weakening demand in the labor market.

As companies lean heavier on automation to increase productivity and consolidate their operations, leaders in the mortgage technology sector foresee a professional landscape on the horizon vastly different from that of today’s businesses. During the Mortgage Bankers Association’s (MBA) 2025 annual flagship conference in Las Vegas, Rocket Companies President Bill Emerson moderated a panel of executives concerned with leveraging data and artificial intelligence (AI) to meet modern challenges and drive future growth in the real estate marketplace.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau announced it will rescind a rule it finalized last year, invoking its authority to supervise nonbank entities. The financial services industry welcomed the move, asserting the rule places undue burdens on covered entities.

Ted Rossman, a longtime industry analyst at Bankrate, had plenty of insight to share about recent shifts in FICO’s approach to credit scoring, as well as advice for real estate professionals navigating these changes.

Huntington Bancshares Inc. entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Cadence Bank to expand its presence in Texas and throughout several southern states.

The Senate Banking Committee’s Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development hosted a discussion about potential solutions to the housing affordability crisis during a hearing entitled “Innovation in U.S. Housing: Solutions and Policies for America’s Future.”