Category: blog

  • Almost 2019: Year-in review perspective of HMDA developments

    As we ring in the new year, it is helpful to recap where we are on three different HMDA fronts: 1) data collection, 2) ensuring data quality within the private data, and 3) disclosure and analysis of public data. In each area, I’ll describe the major developments over the last year or so and discuss…

  • DIY Statistical Analysis of HMDA Data

    HMDA data is not just about collecting and reporting.  If used right, it can be a strategic asset that can produce bottom-line results.  I encourage you to make the most of your data by asking and answering questions based on HMDA results you see in LendingPatterns™. For example, you might want to further investigate penetration…

  • What I Wish Everyone Knew About FFIEC Fair Lending Risk Factors and Software Evaluation

    Did you factor the Interagency Fair Lending Examination Procedures’ risk factors (listed beginning on page 6 of this file) into your decision to acquire your current fair lending software solution? Whether you have fair lending software or want to find a new vendor, I’d encourage you to look at the risk factors in detail to determine…

  • What’s the latest on Public 2017 HMDA Data?

    In years past, FFIEC’s release of public HMDA data from the previous year had been finalized by November. But not so this year. My colleagues and I have been getting questions about whether the 2017 public data are final, so this blog will hopefully provide clarity on that topic. Visitors to the LendingPatterns™ website are…

  • What the HMDA Data Reveals about the Future of Private Label Securities

    In the sixties they asked, “Where have all the flowers gone?”  Today I wonder: Where have all the spread loans gone?  Running historical trend charts in LendingPatterns™ reveal that spread lending still exists.  The next logical question is: Which investors are meeting the secondary market needs for these loans?  Or more importantly, who is absorbing…

  • The State of the US Housing Market: Millennial Trends

    Although US Federal Reserve Chairman, Jay Powell, may feel the US housing market is in good shape, it seems as though the market may be slowing more than is ideal. On the other hand, the economy in America is doing well, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country since 1969. So why…

  • Six Fun Facts about Combined Statistical Areas

    Combined Statistical Areas (CSAs) are defined in Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) Performance Evaluations (e.g., this one) as “a combination of several adjacent metropolitan statistical areas (MSAs) or micropolitan statistical areas or a mix of the two, which are linked by economic ties.” When describing regional markets for any product, like mortgages, media, etc., people often…

  • Get Ready For The MBA’s Annual Convention & Expo

    The MBA’s Annual Convention & Expo is the country’s largest gathering of real estate finance professionals, and you can’t miss this great opportunity to deepen your knowledge on the industry. The event takes place from October 14th to 17th in Washington, DC, and ComplianceTech is proud to be one of the exhibitors. Come see us…

  • Mortgage Asset Quality: Use HMDA Data to See How You Compare

    All banking professionals are familiar with the acronym CAMELS (Capital Adequacy, Asset Quality, Management, Earnings, Liquidity, Sensitivity), the risk rating system used by bank regulators.  HMDA data can play a role in this rating system.  Specifically, I’d like to focus on the “A”, Asset Quality.  Using HMDA data, we can uncover the unknown risk factors…

  • Expected Loss of Rate Spread Data Should Hurt Fair Lending Pricing Analysis

    The August 31, 2018 HMDA rule helped clarify the 2018 reporting requirements for banks and credit unions that are minor players in the mortgage market. However, this rule could adversely affect the rate spread data used in fair lending pricing analysis. Rate spread is the difference on a consumer loan between the APR and the…