News Topic: Affordable housing

Blockchain backers concede the hype is turning off bankers; Mulvaney's CFPB name change could cost industry millions of dollars; the one banking bill Congress might actually pass next term; and more from this week's most-read stories. ... Read full article

The Democrat, who will likely head the Financial Services Committee, has signaled she'll make expanded housing opportunities for lower-income consumers a top priority. ... Read full article

The Federal Housing Administration's risk-sharing program with the Federal Financing Bank began as a temporary fix, but the agency is exploring how to make it more permanent. ... Read full article

The end of one-party rule in Washington could move the needle on efforts to devise a new housing finance framework. ... Read full article

The presumptive chair of the Financial Services Committee resumed her tough criticism of the administration, but also committed to "hearing a range of views" if handed the gavel. ... Read full article

Real estate and mortgage industry groups outspent proponents three-to-one to defeat Proposition 10, a measure to allow California municipalities to set local rent control laws. ... Read full article

The presumptive chair of the House Financial Services Committee will likely take the panel in a sharply new direction and have a new bully pulpit to criticize the Trump administration. ... Read full article

A deal between TD Bank and a Vermont nonprofit is just one example of how banks are getting creative in addressing affordable housing needs while reaping financial and regulatory benefits. ... Read full article

Despite recriminations about how the crisis and ensuing regulations have tightened loan access, an actual assessment of mortgage credit availability is more complicated. ... Read full article

There are ways to fix vacant housing. So why can't we manage to do it? ... Read full article

Donald Layton, who has run the mortgage giant since 2012, discussed the busy agenda leading up to his departure and says Freddie can serve as a "technical adviser" in GSE reform talks. ... Read full article

Can community land trusts and Community Reinvestment Act reform fuel investment to stop urban blight? ... Read full article

Proposition 10 would give local jurisdictions a freer hand to restrict rents, but critics say that would lead to property devaluations. Some see an effect regardless of whether the measure passes. ... Read full article

The crisis in affordable housing has its roots in the high cost of building entry-level single-family homes. But why does it cost so much to build a house? And what did previous generations do to build affordable housing? ... Read full article

Small towns across the country struggle with vacant housing as much as cities, even though some of those places have plenty of jobs. Geography and a declining population are forcing many rural communities to make hard choices. ... Read full article

People need jobs to afford housing, but how can cities attract more jobs to places that need them the most? ... Read full article

The senator’s bill to reform the 40-year-old law and expand housing investments could gain clout as Democrats look to pick up congressional seats and she eyes a presidential run. ... Read full article

Advocates are seeking more federal funding for affordable housing. A federal investigation into the banks’ alleged manipulation of a popular tax-credit program can’t be helping their cause. ... Read full article