Reining in Bank Payday Lending
By applying new standards to deposit advances that ensure banks only make loans that can reasonably be repaid, the FDIC and OCC will be able to prevent the spread of high-cost, short-term loan products that can lead financially distressed consumers into a cycle of debt.
Student-Loan Debt Has a Rippling Negative Effect on the Broader Economy
In comments submitted to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, CAP and Campus Progress identify some of the financial hurdles that student-loan borrowers may face and how these hurdles may affect the future housing market and economy.
Public Proposals for the Future of the Housing Finance System
Senior Fellow Janneke Ratcliffe testifies before the Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.
Protecting Consumers and Preserving Lending Programs
The Center for American Progress Housing team submits comments to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau on the qualified mortgage rule’s concurrent proposal.
Why Arcane Mortgage Rules Matter for the Middle Class
Housing-finance policy decisions being made in Washington will determine whether working Americans and their children will be able to move into the middle class and achieve economic independence.
Examining the Proper Role of the Federal Housing Administration in Our Mortgage Insurance Market
Julia Gordon, Director of Housing Finance and Policy at the Center for American Progress, testifies before the House Committee on Financial Services.
How the Debt Ceiling Fight Could Derail the Housing Recovery
Failure to raise the debt ceiling could have a significant effect on the U.S. housing market and seriously damage our recovery.
The Housing Market Is Not Only for Homeowners
Issue Brief
As we chart the path to housing finance reform in the coming months, we must pursue approaches that create a lasting 21st-century finance system and meet the needs of both renters and homeowners.
Building a New Infrastructure for the Secondary Mortgage Market
CAP’s Mortgage Finance Working Group offers suggestions to the Federal Housing Finance Agency to bring liquidity, stability, transparency, and private capital into the secondary mortgage market and ensure that borrowers have access to safe, sustainable, and affordable mortgage products.
The Federal Housing Finance Agency Shouldn’t Punish Borrowers for State Foreclosure Timelines
Comments from the CAP Housing Team outline how the agency’s plan for state-level guarantee fee pricing is an incorrect solution to elongated foreclosure timelines.
Fact Sheet: The Federal Housing Administration’s 2012 Actuarial Report
Issue Brief
Seven key facts about the report and what you need to know about the agency's future.
A Strong Housing Market Is Critical to Our Economic Recovery
Six reasons why lawmakers need to focus on housing to help spur the economy, rather than ignore this key sector and hope for the best.
The Housing Market Is on the Mend, and the Government Deserves Some Credit
The federal government stepped in to support the housing market when it was in free fall, and we’re now starting to see the benefits.
Capital Rules Should Promote Safety and Soundness
Comments from the CAP Housing team, the Mortgage Finance Working Group, and several other leading housing and consumer advocacy organizations outline how capital rules should help promote long-term homeownership.
The Federal Housing Administration Saved the Housing Market
Issue Brief
Without the cash-strapped agency’s help in recent years, the housing crisis and resulting economic downturn would have been much worse.
