Republicans in Congress have long talked about the need to replace the Dodd-Frank Financial Reform Act. President Trump made replacement of the Act one of his campaign promises, notwithstanding that components of Dodd-Frank were instrumental in helping to jump start the economy following the financial...
Many in the real estate industry were cautiously optimistic following the election of Donald Trump on November 8. For the first time, a real estate titan will occupy the Oval Office and Mr. Trump, it has been argued, will be good for real estate. His...
Much has been made over the last couple of weeks about the $185 million fine Wells Fargo is facing following the wide spread fraud found by the Consumer Finance and Protection Bureau (CFPB). For at least the past 5 years, Wells Fargo employees have opened...
Commercial Real Estate lending continues to explode. Through the third quarter of 2015, CRE loans outstanding totaled over $1.8 trillion. Over the last 8 years or so, CRE underwriting standards have eased somewhat. The Federal Reserve, FDIC and Comptroller of the Currency issued a Joint...
When the Federal Reserve finally raised interest rates in early December, borrowers across the country promptly began receiving notices from mortgage and credit card lenders of increases in their mortgages, equity lines and credit cards. While the Fed increase and corresponding consumer increases were only...