Tag: Housing

Nearly a year ago, on Jan. 6, Watt was sworn in as director of the FHFA. (AP/Susan Walsh)

Federal Housing Director Mel Watt stokes housing fear

Joseph Lawler · December 14, 2014 10:00 am

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, have decided to lower the down payment they require on some mortgages from 5 percent to 3 percent. The horrific lesson of what results from encouraging marginal borrowers to buy homes has somehow vanished from their memories. (AP Photos)

Mortgage binges and painful hangovers

Steve Chapman · December 13, 2014 8:42 pm

Federal Housing Finance Agency Director Mel Watt, an Obama appointee, announced that the two government-sponsored enterprises' finances were secure enough to permit them to put some profits into two trust funds set aside for affordable housing. (AP Photo)

Housing regulator opens taps for affordable-housing fund

Joseph Lawler · December 11, 2014 4:48 pm

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Fannie, Freddie announce loans with 3 percent down payments

Joseph Lawler · December 8, 2014 8:00 pm

In this Nov. 20, 2013, photo, the sun sets behind the Fannie Mae headquarters in Washington. (AP Photo/J. David Ake)

Treasury slams door on reforming Fannie and Freddie without legislation

Joseph Lawler · December 4, 2014 6:24 pm

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HUD fires almost no one, not because its workers are stellar

Luke Rosiak · November 26, 2014 2:00 pm

U.S. families finally are feeling comfortable enough with their personal circumstances to finance spending with added debt. (iStock Photo)

Americans are finally borrowing to buy more stuff

Joseph Lawler · November 25, 2014 4:00 pm

Top housing finance regulator Mel Watt sought to allay lawmakers' fears that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac are returning to risky home lending in his first visit to Capitol Hill as director of the Federal Housing Finance Administration Wednesday. (AP/Jacquelyn Martin)

Fannie and Freddie regulator seeks to allay lawmakers’ fears

Joseph Lawler · November 19, 2014 5:48 pm

Federal Housing Finance Authority Director Mel Watt. (AP File Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Democratic senators call on Fannie, Freddie regulator to boost home lending

Joseph Lawler · November 18, 2014 11:26 pm

"Housing finance reform certainly has been a priority and will continue to be a priority." said Castro. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

‘Doing away’ with Fannie, Freddie a priority, HUD chief says

Joseph Lawler · November 18, 2014 3:17 am

Federal Housing Finance Authority Director Mel Watt. (AP File Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

Mel Watt: Student loans, financial crisis holding back homeownership

Joseph Lawler · November 7, 2014 12:40 pm

An Agency Desperately Trying to Get Its Way

Terry Eastland · November 4, 2014 7:01 pm