REFinBlog

Editor: David Reiss
Cornell Law School

May 29, 2013

Risky Business Model for Homeowners?

By David Reiss

The Mortgage Bankers Association issued a report, Up-Front Risk Sharing: Ensuring Private Capital Delivers for Consumers, intended to increase the role of the private sector in the portion of the mortgage market currently dominated by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.  … Continue reading

May 28, 2013

Reiss on Housing Affordability

By David Reiss

I will be speaking on the FHA and Housing Affordability on June 11th at the AALS Workshop on Poverty, Immigration and Property will be held June 10-12 in San Diego. The workshop brings together three communities of scholars: poverty, immigration … Continue reading

May 22, 2013

Reiss on Qualified Mortgage Rule

By David Reiss

TheStreet.com quoted me in a story, New Mortgage Lending Rule Intended to Protect Borrowers May Hurt Self-Employed.  It reads in part, “Lenders are incentivized to originate qualified mortgages, because doing so makes it easier to defend against borrower lawsuits,” says … Continue reading

May 21, 2013

Two (or Three) Cheers for DeMarco’s Swan Song

By David Reiss

FHFA acting Director Edward Demarco gave a thoughtful speech, Housing Finance, Systemic Risk, and Returning Private Capital to the Mortgage Market, on the future of federal housing finance policy.  Given that the Administration has nominated Mel Watt as his permanent replacement, … Continue reading

May 20, 2013

Financial Education on a Wing and Prayer?

By David Reiss

The CFPB released its report, Feedback from the Financial Education Field, which summarizes responses to an Request for Information on Effective Financial Education.  The CFPB is required by Dodd-Frank to establish an Office of Financial Education “to educate American consumers … Continue reading

May 16, 2013

Reiss on Threats to Housing

By David Reiss

CBS News interviewed me (and gave a shout out to REFinblog.com) about The 5 Biggest Threats to the Housing Recovery. It reads in part: 3. The government’s role in the mortgage market will change The U.S. government currently backs about … Continue reading

May 14, 2013

Reform for Whom?

By David Reiss

David Stevens, the head of the Mortgage Bankers Association, gave an important and revealing speech about the direction of housing finance reform.  It contains some good ideas, but also raises an alarm.  Because the Administration and Congress are at an … Continue reading