According to many economists, consumers are prepared for rising interest rates. This statement is backed by examining, not only consumption behaviors, but the willingness of...
Industry Outlook, Rob Chrisman's PerspectivesOver the last several years the residential lending industry has lamented practically every change. Y2K, LO comp, QM, TRID, the list goes on and on,...
Industry Outlook, Rob Chrisman's Perspectives, Secondary Markets, UncategorizedAsk most first-time home buyers what the main factors of financing are for them, and I’m pretty sure down payment, and the monthly mortgage amount...
Industry Outlook, Rob Chrisman's PerspectivesJobs and housing drive the economy, and each of those is influenced by consumer’s behavior, optimism, and thoughts of the future. Optimistic people are more...
Industry Outlook, Rob Chrisman's PerspectivesIn February, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) issued a strategic plan for its ongoing conservatorship of Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae (the GSEs). The...
Industry Outlook, Rob Chrisman's Perspectives, Secondary MarketsDoes anyone remember the “fiscal cliff”? Sure, many believe that Congress will overcome their partisan politics and extend many of the provisions, kicking the can...
Industry Outlook, Rob Chrisman's Perspectives“Knowing the value of something one owns, whether it is a Honus Wagner baseball card or a high-rise office building in Hong Kong, is important...
Industry Outlook, Rob Chrisman's PerspectivesWe are hard-pressed to pick up a newspaper or listen to a newscast without seeing or hearing something about bankruptcies, foreclosures, or the credit crisis...
Industry Outlook, Rob Chrisman's PerspectivesOn October 24th the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), Fannie Mae, and Freddie Mac announced several changes to the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP) in...
Industry Outlook, Regulation, Rob Chrisman's PerspectivesIt seems that there is news about Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac nearly every day, if not in the mainstream media than in the mortgage...
Industry Outlook, Regulation, Rob Chrisman's Perspectives, Secondary MarketsEvery once in a while a rumor or somewhat-substantiated story sweeps through the mortgage banking world about some radical proposal. On the trading desks it...
Industry Outlook, Rob Chrisman's Perspectives, Secondary MarketsWe currently live in a world where roughly 90% of the mortgage production is linked to a particular government agency. Industry observers will tell you...
Industry Outlook, Rob Chrisman's Perspectives, Secondary MarketsWhat do La Raza, The National Association of Realtors, well over a hundred members of Congress, and the NAACP have in common? They have all...
Industry Outlook, Regulation, Rob Chrisman's Perspectives, Secondary MarketsAlthough the mortgage banking industry initially “dragged its feet” in becoming aware of the potential impact on mortgage lending (some would say “danger”) within the...
Industry Outlook, Regulation, Rob Chrisman's Perspectives, Secondary MarketsWhen one talks to loan officers, they will sometimes talk about how bad things are now compared to where they were five years ago. When...
Industry Outlook, Rob Chrisman's Perspectives, Secondary Markets