Appraisal Institute News | Appraisal Institute

Jun 12, 2019 12:30 PM

Fannie, Freddie Launch Uniform Mortgage-backed Security

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac on June 3 launched the Uniform Mortgage-Backed Security, completing the their single-security initiative, MReport reported. The government-sponsored enterprises expect more efficiency and liquidity in the housing market, but critics argue that the UMBS won’t lower mortgage rates as touted.

Jun 12, 2019 12:30 PM

40% of Surveyed Economists Said They Expect a Fed Rate Drop Within the Next Year

Forty percent of economists who responded to Bankrate’s Second-Quarter Economic Indicator survey released June 6 said they believe that the Federal Reserve will lower interest rates in the next year. Respondents cited escalating U.S. tensions with China, slowing international growth and depleting fiscal stimulus as key factors.

Jun 05, 2019 12:30 PM

Licensed Alabama Appraisers Now Can Begin Performing Evaluations

Alabama enacted legislation, effective May 29, allowing state-licensed appraisers to perform evaluations for federally regulated financial institutions.

Jun 05, 2019 12:30 PM

Louisiana Appraisers May Start Performing Evaluations Aug. 1

Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards on May 30 signed HB 340, legislation that allows appraisers in the state to provide evaluations for federally insured depository institutions. The law takes effect Aug. 1.

Jun 05, 2019 12:30 PM

PACE Financing, HMDA Act Among Top Rulemaking Priorities for CFPB for the Year

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau published its rulemaking agenda May 22, revealing that two of the biggest regulatory matters it will focus on over the next year will be financing for property assessed clean energy loans and new rules related to the Home Mortgage Disclosure Act. The agenda covers rulemaking through April 30, 2020.

May 29, 2019 05:05 PM

Government Agencies to Improve Relationship with Lenders: FHA

Regulatory compliance standards are discouraging lenders from working with various government housing agencies, Brian Montgomery, Federal Housing Administration commissioner, told attendees May 23 at a Mortgage Bankers Association conference, MBA NewsLink reported. Montgomery said the agencies are seeking to create a friendlier environment to encourage more lending.

May 29, 2019 05:03 PM

Survey Shows 47% of Homebuyers Affected by Tax Changes

Tax changes affected the house hunt of 47% of potential homebuyers this year, down from 56% last year when the effects of tax reform were mostly still speculative and not yet realized in paychecks, the online real estate marketplace Redfin reported in a survey released May 16.

May 29, 2019 04:59 PM

Mortgage Industry May Struggle with 'Zombie' LIBOR After Phaseout, Reuters Reports

The nation's mortgage industry probably will still have to deal with a "zombie" version of the London Interbank Offered Rate even after the benchmark is phased out in 2021, Reuters reported May 21. The trade group Alternative Reference Rates Committee has introduced guidelines, backed by the Federal Reserve, for participants to use another reference rate.

May 15, 2019 12:30 PM

GSEs Can End Oversight Without Congress Approval: FHFA

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac can be freed from government oversight even if Congress doesn’t pass a housing-financial overhaul involving the government-sponsored enterprises, the Federal Housing Finance Agency Director, Mark Calabria, told Bloomberg May 8. He noted that Congress will get at least an entire session to act.

May 15, 2019 12:30 PM

Rural Communities Likely to Continue Declining, Data Shows

Rural areas, which comprise 42 percent of the nation’s counties, suffered significant population and job losses due to the Great Recession and likely won’t recover, leaving their housing and commercial bases to struggle, according to Commerce Department data, CityLab reported May 7. Communities in the Northeast and the Midwest were hardest hit.

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