The Obama Administration has announced additional details about its Aug. 17 Conference on the Future of Housing Finance, including a list of panelists and the conference agenda. This event will provide a forum for public input as the Administration continues its work developing a comprehensive housing finance reform proposal for delivery to Congress by January 2011. The event will take place from 9:00 a.m.–1:30 p.m.  at the Cash Room of the U.S. Treasury Department, located at 1500 Pennsylvania Ave., NW in Washington, D.C. Read more

The Advertising Council, in partnership with the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), has announced the launch of a national public service advertising (PSA) campaign designed to encourage homeowners who are struggling with their monthly mortgage payments to learn about the Making Home Affordable Program.Read more

The Obama Administration has announced expanded opportunities for public engagement on the future of our nation's housing finance system, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These events, which will include a major conference in Washington, D.C., will help provide critical public input as the Administration continues its work developing a comprehensive housing finance reform proposal for delivery to Congress by January 2011.Read more

U.S. Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner has announced that, when Comptroller of the Currency John C. Dugan leaves office on Aug. 14, John G. Walsh will become Acting Comptroller of the Currency (OCC). Walsh currently serves as Chief of Staff and Public Affairs for the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC), a position he has held since Oct. 17, 2005. In that position, he has been engaged in all aspects of the OCC's operations.Read more

The conclusion of the House-Senate Conference on the financial reform bill early Friday morning has produced a bill that seeks to revamp the American financial system, and more importantly, bring accountability to Wall Street. Dubbed the Dodd-Frank Act after its primary architects, Senate Banking Committee Chairman Sen. Christopher J. Dodd (D-CT) and House Financial Services Committee Chairman Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA), the bill is expected to be approved by both the House and the Senate some time next week.Read more

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) and the U.S. Department of the Treasury have introduced a monthly scorecard on the nation's housing market. Each month, the scorecard will incorporate key housing market indicators and highlight the impact of the Administration's unprecedented housing recovery efforts, including assistance to homeowners through the Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP). This scorecard contains key data on the health of the housing market including:Read more

The Obama Administration has released questions for public comment on the future of the housing finance system, including Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and the overall role of the federal government in housing policy. The questions have been designed to generate input from a wide variety of constituents, including market participants, industry groups, academic experts, and consumer and community organizations. The questions will also be published in a Federal Register notice requesting public comments, and information on the process for submitting comments will be included in that notice.Read more

The U.S. Department of the Treasury, together with the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD), and the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) have announced the completion of all transactions under the recently-introduced state and local Housing Finance Agency (HFA) Initiative, a key element of the Obama Administration's Homeowner Affordability and Stability Plan (HASP).Read more

Attorney General Eric Holder, Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Shaun Donovan, and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) Chairwoman Mary Schapiro have announced that President Barack Obama has established by Executive Order an interagency Financial Fraud Enforcement Task Force to strengthen efforts to combat financial crime. The Department of Justice will lead the task force and the Department of Treasury, HUD and the SEC will serve on the steering committee.Read more

The $8,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit is set to be extended until April 30, 2010. The Obama Administration has urged Congress to pass legislation to extend the program from its original Dec. 1, 2009 deadline. In addition, legislation may provide a tax credit for some current homeowners. The National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB) will continue to monitor the legislation.Read more