Mortgages, Housing Market

Mansion House: Mortgage-related developments

A&O Shearman on 7/29/2025

HM Treasury has announced the launch of a permanent mortgage guarantee scheme, aimed at supporting first-time buyers and home movers across the UK. The scheme enables access to 91–95% loan-to-value mortgages, allowing buyers...more

Checking in on the Portland Metro Residential Real Estate Market

Tonkon Torp LLP on 7/24/2025

The June 2025 Market Action Report for the Portland metropolitan area, published by RMLS, describes a residential real estate market that is steady, if subdued, with slight pricing increases and modest shifts in transactional...more

HUD Rescinds Various FHA Mortgage Loan Requirements

Ballard Spahr LLP on 7/11/2025

Recently the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) rescinded various FHA mortgage loan requirements in a series of five Mortgagee Letters....more

UK Mortgage Rule Review: FCA discussion paper on future of market seeks views on ‘trade-offs and risks’ that changing its rules...

Hogan Lovells on 7/9/2025

Following the FCA’s May 2025 ‘first steps’ consultation on proposals to simplify its mortgage framework via a Mortgage Rule Review (MRR), it has now published a discussion paper on the future of the mortgage market. The...more

FCA publishes discussion paper on the future of the UK mortgage market

A&O Shearman on 7/8/2025

The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has published discussion paper DP25/2 (DP) accompanied by an updated webpage and press release, on the future of the UK mortgage market, as part of its ongoing mortgage rule review....more

FHFA Orders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to Consider Cryptocurrency Reserves in Mortgage Risk Assessments

Sheppard Mullin Richter & Hampton LLP on 7/7/2025

On June 25, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) issued a directive ordering Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to prepare proposals for treating cryptocurrency held on U.S.-regulated exchanges as assets for reserves in...more

Philadelphia Increases Realty Transfer Tax Rate to 3.578% Starting July 1, 2025

Saul Ewing LLP on 6/24/2025

Effective July 1, 2025, the realty transfer tax rate for properties or acquired real estate companies sold in the City and County of Philadelphia will increase to 3.578%, in addition to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania realty...more

Potential Impacts of the Privatization of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac

Harris Beach Murtha PLLC on 6/5/2025

Fannie Mae (1938) and Freddie Mac (1970) were created with the end goal of promoting homeownership across the United States. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, both government-sponsored entities (“GSEs”), are publicly traded and...more

EBA issues opinion on Norway's measure of risk weight floor increase

A&O Shearman on 6/3/2025

The European Banking Authority (EBA) has issued an opinion (dated 12 May) in response to a notification from the Norwegian Ministry of Finance, regarding its intention to recalibrate the risk weight floor for Norwegian retail...more

UK Mortgage Rule Review: FCA consults on 'first steps' aimed at simplifying rules and increasing flexibility

Hogan Lovells on 5/14/2025

Following a March 2025 press release and letter to the Economic Secretary to the Treasury announcing plans to improve access to mortgages to support the government’s economic growth mission, the FCA has published a ‘first...more

Tennessee enacts new home loan rate

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP on 5/12/2025

On April 28, the governor of Tennessee signed into law HB 908 to amend the maximum effective interest rate for home loans originated in the state. The new law sets the rate at four percentage points above the average prime...more

HUD Modifies Exclusive REO Listing Period and Eliminates Exclusive Sales Period

Ballard Spahr LLP on 4/30/2025

Recently, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) issued Mortgagee Letter 2025-13 to revise the exclusive listing period for certain parties in connection with HUD real estate owned (REO) properties, and...more

Broad Street Brief: City Council Examines HOME Initiative

Cozen O'Connor on 4/25/2025

Mayor Cherelle Parker unveiled details about the programs to be funded by her signature Housing Opportunities Made Easy (HOME) Initiative on Monday. More than 75% of the $800 million bond amount will be allocated to seven key...more

Veterans Affairs Ending Mortgage Rescue Program

Bradley Arant Boult Cummings LLP on 4/8/2025

On April 3, 2025, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) announced it will end the Veterans Affairs Servicing Purchase (VASP) program on May 1, 2025. This decision comes just shy of one year since the program’s...more

FHFA Director Pulte Terminates Mortgage-Related Special Purpose Credit Programs for GSEs

Troutman Pepper Locke on 3/28/2025

In a significant policy shift under the Trump administration, the new Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) Director Bill Pulte issued an order on March 25, 2025 terminating special purpose credit programs (SPCPs) supported...more

FHFA announces new director is sworn in

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP on 3/24/2025

On March 14, the FHFA announced that Director William Pulte was sworn in as its fifth director in a ceremony held in Washington, D.C., on March 14. Pulte was appointed by President Trump and will serve a five-year term...more

Senators request information from HUD regarding Fannie, Freddie

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP on 3/10/2025

On February 26, several U.S. Senators sent a letter to HUD Secretary, Scott Turner, raising concerns about the Secretary’s role in the potential reprivatization of government sponsored enterprises (GSEs) Fannie Mae and...more

Massachusetts Attorney General files lawsuit against real estate investment services provider

Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP on 3/10/2025

On February 19, a complaint was filed by the Massachusetts State Attorney General (AG) alleging that a real estate investment services company and its affiliate engaged in “systematic and pervasive unfair or deceptive acts...more

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (2/5/25) – The Effect of Trump’s Policies on the Housing Market, Property Value Loss in...

Pillsbury - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real... on 2/6/2025

In our latest roundup, Southern California wildfires impact supply chain, higher material prices threaten future project demand, commercial real estate distress strains regional banks, and more!...more

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (1/28/25) – FTC Suing Greystar, DOJ Investigating Top Residential Landlords and Trump...

Pillsbury - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real... on 1/29/2025

In our latest roundup, construction technology funding stabilizes, office vacancies hit new high, builders outline recommendations to Trump, and more!...more

Daily Financial Regulation Update -- Wednesday January 15, 2025

Paul Hastings LLP on 1/15/2025

January 14, 2025- Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation Chair Martin Gruenberg gave a speech entitled “Three Financial Crises and Lessons for the Future,” at the Brookings Institution....more

Rocket Mortgage Turns the Table on HUD

Ballard Spahr LLP on 12/18/2024

As previously reported, this summer the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) filed a housing discrimination charge under the Fair Housing Act against an appraisal company, individual appraiser, appraisal...more

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (12/4/24) – Highest Rate of Office Conversions, Lending Caps for Fannie Mae and Freddie...

Pillsbury - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real... on 12/5/2024

In our latest roundup, infrastructure-related ballot initiatives, U.S. Green Building Council’s success stories, support for sustainable building, and more!...more

Real Estate & Construction News Roundup (8/14/24) – Commercial Real Estate AI, Hotel Pipeline Growth, and Housing Market...

Pillsbury - Gravel2Gavel Construction & Real... on 8/15/2024

In our latest roundup, nonresidential spending drops, realtor payment structure changes, office vacancy rates soar, and more!...more

Cozen Currents: Is Harris the Answer?

Cozen O'Connor on 7/24/2024

The Cozen Lens - While it’s becoming ever clearer Vice President Harris is likely to be the Democratic nominee following President Biden’s decision to step aside, it’s less clear what the impact will be on the presidential...more

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