After a protracted fight, the Senate has finally confirmed Rep. Mel Watt (D-N.C.) to head the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA), which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. What direction will he steer the United States' housing finance system?
"As director of the agency that oversees Fannie and Freddie, Watt will have a huge influence with big decisions to be made about how to deal with two agencies that are essentially still floating in suspended animation," writes Lydia DePillis. "So, what can we expect from FHFA Director Watt?"
"If you listen to conservatives like the Heritage Foundation and the American Enterprise Institute's Peter Wallison, he'll start inflating a new housing bubble by pursuing policies he's supported in the past to help low-income home buyers secure loans. If you listen to fair lending advocates, he would pump more money into stabilizing foreclosures, which current FHFA Director Ed DeMarco refused to consider."
DePillis directs readers to a recent article by Nick Timiraos in The Wall Street Journal that examines four ways that Watt could change housing policy.
FULL STORY: The Senate finally confirmed the most powerful man in housing. Here’s what he might do.
‘Renters Bill of Rights’ One Step Closer to Reality
The Biden administration could strengthen tenant protections on a national scale by leveraging federally backed mortgages to mandate rent stabilization and bar discrimination in rental housing.
Critiquing the Federal Housing Finance Agency's Policy on Loan Put-Backs
Laurie Goodman and Jun Zhu explain the complicated but critical controversy over the Federal Housing Finance Agency's (FHFA) recent policy for sunsets on loan put-backs. At stake: the ongoing constraints on lending in the United States.
Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae to Back $1 Million Mortgages
Expensive housing markets are about to cross a symbolic threshold.
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
National Parks Layoffs Will Cause Communities to Lose Billions
Thousands of essential park workers were laid off this week, just before the busy spring break season.
Retro-silient?: America’s First “Eco-burb,” The Woodlands Turns 50
A master-planned community north of Houston offers lessons on green infrastructure and resilient design, but falls short of its founder’s lofty affordability and walkability goals.
Test News Post 1
This is a summary
Analysis: Cybertruck Fatality Rate Far Exceeds That of Ford Pinto
The Tesla Cybertruck was recalled seven times last year.
Test News Headline 46
Test for the image on the front page.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
EMC Planning Group, Inc.
Planetizen
Planetizen
Mpact (formerly Rail~Volution)
Great Falls Development Authority, Inc.
HUDs Office of Policy Development and Research
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service