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Principles to Guide Development and Regulation of a Renewed Mortgage Finance System

CAP and the Mortgage Finance Working Group offer ways to improve the mortgage financing system.
couple with child on lawn

A Path to Homeownership

Report from Rick Jacobus and David M. Abromowitz explains shared equity purchase assistance and how it would help promote homeownership.
man waiting in line at bank

Unequal Opportunity Lenders?

Report from Andrew Jakabovics and Jeff Chapman shows racial disparities in higher-priced lending among the 14 largest banks and subsidiaries during the housing bubble.

It's Time We Talked

Andrew Jakabovics and Alon Cohen argue in a report that the federal government has a role to play in expanding mediation programs for those facing foreclosure.

Other Housing Features

February 26, 2010

Sustainable Homeownership

Sen. Patrick Leahy and others discuss shared equity homeownership as a new strategy to owning a home.
February 25, 2010

Infographic: How to Create Green Rental Homes

A graphic look at how to a establish a green rental conversion program.
February 25, 2010

Slowing Price Declines Are Good News for FHA

Andrew Jakabovics provides analysis of new FFHA house price data and explains variability in local markets over time. By Andrew Jakabovics
February 23, 2010

An Untapped Source of Green Rental Homes

Andrew Jakabovics examines the details needed to inaugurate a green rental conversion program in communities across our nation. By Andrew Jakabovics
January 28, 2010

Fourth and Inches

New mortgage relief guidelines are important steps forward but fall short of the needs of many responsible but beleaguered homeowners, writes Andrew Jakabovics. By Andrew Jakabovics
January 26, 2010

Location, Location, Location

Andrew Jakabovics offers analysis of new housing data, saying that it offers mixed answers and the federal government must remain vigilant. By Andrew Jakabovics
December 14, 2009

A Responsible Market for Housing Finance

Draft white paper from CAP's Mortgage Finance Working Group on the future of the U.S. secondary market for residential mortgages.
December 3, 2009

Jobs for Today, Jobs for the Future

Proposals for sustained employment growth and broad-based economic prosperity from John D. Podesta. By John Podesta
December 2, 2009

Meeting the Jobs Challenge

Report on how to avoid another jobless—or job-loss—economic recovery. By David M. Abromowitz, Heather Boushey, Michael Ettlinger, Kate Gordon , Bracken Hendricks, Andrew Jakabovics, Michael Linden, David Madland, Sarah Rosen Wartell
December 2, 2009

One in Seven

David Abromowitz offers recommendations for finally getting ahead of the foreclosure crisis, which is seeing one in seven homeowners default on their loans. By David M. Abromowitz
November 30, 2009

Modifying Modifications

Treasury should authorize housing counselors to approve HAMP modifications, writes Andrew Jakabovics. By Andrew Jakabovics
October 8, 2009

The Future of the Mortgage Market and the Housing Enterprises

CAP Action's Andrew Jakabovics testifies before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs on the future of the mortgage market and the housing enterprises. By Andrew Jakabovics
October 6, 2009

The Danger of Untargeted Home Buying Credits

David Abromowitz explains why extending untargeted home buying credits misses an opportunity for more effective economic stimulus. By David M. Abromowitz
September 15, 2009

More Money, More Problems

Sam Fulwood writes in The Root about a new CAP study showing that wealthy blacks and Hispanics pay higher interest rates than wealthy whites and Asians. By Sam Fulwood III
August 4, 2009

Grading on a Curve

Andrew Jakabovics reviews the first report on the performance of mortgage service companies charged with modifying at-risk home mortgages. There’s reason to be disappointed by some of the biggest players. By Andrew Jakabovics
July 28, 2009

Are Mortgage Companies to Blame for Lack of Foreclosure Progress?

Andrew Jakabovics in the Chicago Sun-Time talks about why some servicers are dragging their feet on loan modifications. By Andrew Jakabovics
July 28, 2009

Called to the Carpet

Mortgage servicing companies will face tough questions from the Obama administration about the slow pace of mortgage modifications amid rising foreclosures, writes Andrew Jakabovics. By Andrew Jakabovics
April 10, 2009

Don’t Hamper Mortgage Modifications

The Treasury’s plan to rid banks of toxic assets should not upend the existing program to help responsible at-risk homeowners, argues Andrew Jakabovics. By Andrew Jakabovics
April 9, 2009

Recommendations for the Public-Private Investment Program

Report from Michael Ettlinger, Andrew Jakabovics, and David Min discusses how to implement the Treasury Department’s plan to clean up the toxic asset mess. By Michael Ettlinger, Andrew Jakabovics, David Min
March 20, 2009

Weekly Round Up March 16 - 20, 2009

CAP focused this week on the sixth anniversary of the Iraq war, a growing crisis in Afghanistan, and turning the economy around.
March 19, 2009

Examining the Making Home Affordable Program

CAP Action's Andrew Jakabovics testifies before the House Financial Services Committee on President Obama's Making Home Affordable Program. By Andrew Jakabovics
March 18, 2009

Mortgage Finance: Progressive Solutions

CAP hosts a discussion with Michael Barr and a panel of experts to explore progressive solutions to the current mortgage finance crisis.
March 16, 2009

Our House in the Middle of Our Street is No Longer Our House

Here’s a news flash: The housing market is bad. Actually, it is really bad, historically, woefully bad. And, the bad news won’t stop coming. Housing wealth is dropping precipitously, families own ever smaller shares of their own homes, and home owners are falling behind in their mortgages in record numbers. By Christian E. Weller
March 16, 2009

Sustainable Mortgage Modifications

Report from Andrew Jakabovics recommends setting clear benchmarks to measure progress and identifies possible next steps to contain the foreclosure crisis. By Andrew Jakabovics
March 11, 2009

Salvando los hogares estadounidenses: Lección No. 1

La Ley de Ayuda Familiar para Salvar la Vivienda del 2009 establece medidas clave para disminuir las ejecuciones hipotecarias y restaurar el mercado inmobiliario.
March 3, 2009

Saving American Homes 101

The Helping Families Save Their Homes Act of 2009 boasts key measures to slow foreclosures and help the housing market recover. We unpack the legislation for you.
February 18, 2009

At Last, Help for Homeowners

The Obama administration’s housing plan actually helps homeowners, writes Andrew Jakabovics. Now that’s progress. By Andrew Jakabovics, David M. Abromowitz
January 8, 2009

Time to Quarantine the Foreclosure Epidemic

The worsening housing and economic crises afflicting our nation warrant bolder action in the home mortgage arena, writes David Abromowitz. By David M. Abromowitz
December 19, 2008

Interactive Map: Helping States Deal with Foreclosures

If Congress includes more funding for purchasing and rehabilitating foreclosed properties in the stimulus, it could create 100,000 jobs.
December 17, 2008

Green Affordable Housing

Report from David Abromowitz outlines ways that the Obama administration can incentivize and enable the green transformation of affordable housing. By David M. Abromowitz
November 25, 2008

Paulson Pushed Toward Solution

Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson is pressured to help homeowners, then heads off in another direction, but Fed chief Ben Bernanke gets it right, says Ed Paisley. By Ed Paisley
November 20, 2008

Defending the CRA

The Community Reinvestment Act had nothing to do with the current financial crisis but much to do with revitalized communities, write David Abromowitz and Cathy Minehan. By David M. Abromowitz, Cathy Minehan
November 18, 2008

Rescusing the American Economy: Mortgages Are Troubled Assets

Andrew Jakabovics explains why the Troubled Asset Relief Program should remain focused on mortgage debt. By Andrew Jakabovics
November 17, 2008

Homeownership Done Right

During the presidential campaign, the housing debate sometimes had more to do with how many homes a candidate owned than about solutions to the nation's housing crisis. By David M. Abromowitz
November 14, 2008

Restoring Financial and Housing Markets

CAPAF's Michael Barr testifies before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform about initiatives to strengthen financial markets. By Michael Barr
November 13, 2008

Hank to Homeowners: Drop Dead

Treasury Secretary “Hank” Paulson is willing to buy all kinds of debt, except mortgage-related assets, observes Andrew Jakabovics. By Andrew Jakabovics
October 29, 2008

Next Steps to Resolve the Mortgage Crisis

The Bush administration can take steps now to help troubled homeowners while Congress prepares to enact more targeted measures, writes Michael S. Barr. By Michael Barr
October 28, 2008

Housing Fundamentals

With 9.5 percent of newer houses vacant and prices at 2003 levels, bank bailouts alone won’t solve the housing crisis, notes Andrew Jakabovics. By Andrew Jakabovics
October 23, 2008

Time for Some Answers from Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson

Senate Banking Committee must ask Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson why he won’t stop harmful home foreclosures, write Michael S. Barr and Sarah Rosen Wartell. By Michael Barr, Sarah Rosen Wartell
October 16, 2008

Think Again: Meltdown: The Blame Game

The conservatives' argument that progressives, Fannie and Freddie, and minorities caused the current crisis has no validity, write Eric Alterman and George Zornick. By Eric Alterman, George Zornick
October 14, 2008

Who Are the Villains of the Mortgage Mess?

David M. Abromowitz faults the Bush administration's dismantling of federal regulation for the current mortgage mess. By David M. Abromowitz
October 3, 2008

Public Opinion Snapshot: Public Calls for More Help for Homeowners

The public wants measures to help homeowners, which are critical to reach the root of the issue, to be included in the congressional relief package. By Ruy Teixeira
October 2, 2008

Video: Fixing the Credit Markets

Ed Paisley on what happened in the credit markets, why it happened, and what we can do. By Ed Paisley
October 2, 2008

Crazy Talk

Conservatives are trying to shift responsibility from themselves for the U.S. housing and financial crises, but it’s dishonest, writes Michael Ettlinger. By Michael Ettlinger
October 2, 2008

Not Done Yet

Even if Congress enacts Bush’s financial rescue package, there is more needed to revive our economy and restore integrity to housing and financial markets, writes David Abromowitz. By David M. Abromowitz, Michael Ettlinger
September 30, 2008

Setting the Record Straight: Blame Conservatives, not CRA, for subprime mortgage mess

Tim Westrich details why conservatives are responsible for the subprime mortgage mess, not the Community Reinvestment Act. By Tim Westrich
September 29, 2008

Bailout Package Necessary, but Only the First Step

The Center for American Progress argues that President Bush’s financial rescue plan requires overwhelming congressional support even though more needs to be done to help Main Street.
September 26, 2008

Blame it on the Immigrants

Michele Malkin and fringe conservatives want to blame the financial crisis on immigrants. David Abromowitz shows the truth behind the flimsy facts. By David M. Abromowitz
September 26, 2008

Culpemos a los Inmigrantes

Michele Malkin y los conservadores quieren culpar a los inmigrares de nuestra crisis financiera. ¿Podremos creer esta manipulación? By David M. Abromowitz
September 24, 2008

A Fair and Effective Financial Solution

The global financial crisis caused by the Bush administration's utter failure to supervise our mortgage lending and financial markets properly can only be fixed by going to the root of the problem—the ailing U.S. housing market. Find out how we can fix it.

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