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Building Sustainable Homeownership:
Responsible Lending and Informed Consumer Choice

Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago
230 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois  60604
June 7, 2006



Agenda | Transcript printable Printable version (300 KB PDF)

Pages 1-25 | 26-50 | 51-75 | 76-100 | 101-125 | 126-150 | 151-175 | 176-200 | 201-225 | 226-250 | 251-267

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             THE FEDERAL RESERVE BOARD 81
        BUILDING SUSTAINABLE HOMEOWNERSHIP: 91
  RESPONSIBLE LENDING AND INFORMED CONSUMER CHOICE 101
                   PUBLIC MEETING 111
          Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago 121
              230 South LaSalle Street 131
              Chicago, Illinois  60604 141
              Wednesday, June 7, 2006 151
                     8:30 a.m. 161
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    ATTENDEES: 12
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               GOVERNOR MARK W. OLSON 32
  Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System 42
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                 MR. LEONARD CHANIN 62
                 Associate Director 72
     Division of Consumer and Community Affairs 82
  92
               MS. SANDRA BRAUNSTEIN 102
                      Director 112
     Division of Consumer and Community Affairs 122
  132
              MS. PAULETTE MYRIE-HODGE (Panel 1) 142
              Assistant Vice President 152
             Supervision and Regulation 162
          Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago 172
  182
                MS. ALICIA WILLIAMS (Panels 2 & 3) 192
    Vice President, Economic Research Department 202
          Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago 212
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    PANELISTS: 13
         PANEL 1: 23
                 MS. DIANE THOMPSON 33
     Attorney, Land of Lincoln Legal Assistance 43
                     Foundation 53
  63
                  MR. THOMAS JAMES 73
     Deputy Attorney General, State of Illinois 83
  93
                 MR. DANIEL LINDSEY 103
Supervisory Attorney, Home Ownership Preservation 113
      Project, Legal Assistance Foundation of 123
                Metropolitan Chicago 133
  143
                  MR. GEOFF SMITH 153
       Project Director, Woodstock Institute 163
  173
                MR. JAMES NABORS, II 183
      National Association of Mortgage Brokers 193
  203
                MR. MICHAEL WILLIAMS 213
  Vice President for Legislative Affairs, The Bond 223
                 Market Association 233
  243
                 MR. WRIGHT ANDREWS 14
     National Home Equity Mortgage Association 24
  34
         PANEL 2: 44
                  MR. SCOTT MASON 54
Director, Structured Finance Ratings, Residential 64
   Mortgage Backed Securities, Standard & Poor's 74
  84
  94
                 MR. KENNETH POSNER 104
Managing Director, Specialty and Mortgage Finance, 114
                   Morgan Stanley 124
  134
            MR. ANTHONY PENNINGTON-CROSS 144
Senior Economist, Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis 154
  164
                  MR. KEITH ERNST 174
               Senior Policy Counsel 184
           Center for Responsible Lending 194
  204
                MR. ROBERTO QUERCIA 214
    Associate Professor, Department of City and 224
Regional Planning, University of North Carolina at 234
                    Chapel Hill 244
  15
                 MR. MICHAEL STATEN 25
    Distinguished Professor and Director, Credit 35
       Research Center, Georgetown University 45
  55
    PANEL 3: 65
                   MR. DAVID ROSE 75
   Director of Research and Technology, National 85
          Training and Information Center 95
  105
                  MR. MICHAEL SHEA 115
   Executive Director, ACORN Housing Corporation 125
  135
                MR. BRUCE GOTTSCHALL 145
Executive Director, Neighborhood Housing Services 155
                     of Chicago 165
  175
                 MS. HEIDI COPPOLA 185
   Vice President and Director, Public Policy and 195
            Issue Management, Citigroup 205
  215
                 MS. LORETTA ABRAMS 225
     Vice President for Consumer Affairs, HSBC 235
  245
    GOVERNOR OLSON:  It's 8:30, we can get 16
started.  I suspect that people will be drifting in 26
and out over the course of the day, but we are 36
looking forward to a very full and free discussion 46
as these issues always tend to generate.  Time is 56
precious, so we will want to get started. 66
              I'm Mark Olson from the Federal 76
Reserve Board in Washington DC.  We have a couple 86
Fed colleagues with me this morning.  Leonard 96
Chanin, who is Associate Director of the Consumer 106
and Community Affairs.  Sandra Braunstein, the 116
Director of Community Affairs.  We have Paulette 126
Myrie-Hodge, from Supervision and Regulation here 136
in Chicago.  And it may appear that we are playing 146
tricks on you, but Alicia Williams -- Alicia, will 156
you identify yourself -- also with the Consumer 166
Affairs here in Chicago, will be part of our 176
panel. 186
              Welcome, Diane.  I was just 196
commenting that we will be introducing the 206
panelists in a moment. 216
              There are a couple of rules that we 226
have instituted.  As you know, in Washington DC, 236
the House of Representatives is a large, very 246
diverse group.  Let me back up. 17
              The Senate.  The Senate thinks of 27
itself as a group that does not need to have a 37
great deal of rules.  They think of themselves as 47
exclusively gentlemen and gentlewomen and not in 57
need of a great deal of rules.  So chaos tends to 67
prevail in the Senate. 77
              The House is under no illusion.  So 87
they have a lot of rules, and it seems to run a lot 97
better. 107
              We are sort of half way between 117
here.  We've decided the rules make a certain 127
amount of sense.  In part because we want to make 137
sure that the time is well used, and in significant 147
part because at the end of the program today is 157
when we have our open mike to allow people who are 167
not on the panels to have a chance to speak. 177
              So for our panel members this 187
morning, we are going to ask each of them to have 197
an opening statement.  And the opening statement 207
will be five minutes, which will be timed by the 217
two timekeepers sitting right out in front, so you 227
can watch carefully how that time goes. 237
              When you are speaking on issues that 247
you're familiar with and that you feel strongly 18
about, five minutes goes very quickly.  And I know 28
that from personal experience and I know that from 38
watching.  So it is not that we think that you're 48
abusive of time privileges, it's just that we think 58
we are being respectful. 68
              This first panel will go from 9:00 to 78
10:30.  We may get started earlier, and if we get 88
started earlier, that's just fine.  But then we 98
will take a break.  We will have a second panel. 108
We will then break for lunch and have a third. 118
              Then at 3:00 o'clock without fail we 128
will leave that hour for comments from people from 138
the audience.  Those of you who would care to 148
speak, that will be a three minute time 158
opportunity.  It will also be timed.  And we ask 168
that you sign in.  Now, where are they -- who is 178
accommodating -- 188
    MS. BRAUNSTEIN:  It's outside of the room. 198
    GOVERNOR OLSON:  It's outside the room.  If you 208
care to speak during that time, we'll do some other 218
reminders, but if you care to speak during that 228
time please sign in and we will then recognize you 238
for that purpose. 248
              Are there any other house rules that 19
we need to talk about before we move on? 29
    MS. BRAUNSTEIN:  Maybe just how this little 39
timer works here. 49
    GOVERNOR OLSON:  A yellow light comes on when 59
it's two, and then the red light comes on at five 69
and you're done, okay. 79
              The HOEPA hearings are a 89
continuation.  Actually, four years ago was the 99
last time that the HOEPA hearings were held.  And 109
in that four years it's hard to imagine that as 119
much change could have taken place in the industry 129
as has taken place.  And so we are going to be 139
doing a series of four HOEPA hearings now around 149
the country. 159
              The purpose of the hearings are 169
threefold.  The first purpose of the hearing is to 179
have a determination of the extent to which the 189
HOEPA regs that were passed in '02, were put in 199
place in '02, are effective.  And we will be 209
hearing from a number of groups about that. 219
              The second purpose of it is to look 229
at the growth of the nontraditional loan product. 239
The nontraditional loan product is certainly the 249
most significant change that has taken place in the 110
marketplace during that interim period, and it has 210
raised some real issues with respect to the 310
mortgage industry.  It has certainly allowed for a 410
great deal of flexibility and has brought a lot 510
more dollars into the home loan market.  But it has 610
also raised some fundamental issues.  So that is an 710
issue that we will want to look at carefully. 810
              The third thing that we want to talk 910
about is the channels the mortgage product is 1010
delivering, because that is a very significant 1110
issue.  And as the mortgage product continues to 1210
grow and as there are more players in the 1310
marketplace, that is a significant change that we 1410
will want to take into consideration. 1510
              The four goals for the program, two 1610
very hard goals and probably one that I would 1710
describe as more of a soft -- two that are probably 1810
softer but equally important.  The first goal is to 1910
look at whether or not there needs to be an 2010
update.  Whether or not we need to make changes in 2110
the HOEPA regs and the threshold amounts that were 2210
in place in '02. 2310
              The second thing, the second 2410
objective is to review Reg Z.  That will be also 111
one of the goals of this and one of the objectives 211
of this session. 311
              The two softer ones, one is to 411
determine whether or not there are going to be some 511
areas of further education that we would like to -- 611
any additional education that we can do from the 711
standpoint of the Fed. 811
              And the fourth would be to identify 911
areas that might be important targets for further 1011
research. 1111
              So I think that is an ambitious 1211
agenda.  But in a time of significant change, I 1311
think that is very important. 1411
              There are four key constituencies, if 1511
you will, or four key variables in the home loan 1611
phenomenon.  And those participants have differing 1711
but important areas of responsibility. 1811
              The first, of course, is the 1911
consumer.  In a world of free markets and in a 2011
world of free choice, you begin with a presumption 2111
that the consumer is responsible for his or her own 2211
actions.  That has to be a fundamental statement 2311
that is made as we consider the fact that there is 2411
a wide range of products that are available and a 112
wide number of choices.  You can't provide an 212
environment where those kinds of choices and those 312
kinds of options exist without a fundamental 412
presumption that the consumer is responsible for 512
their own choices. 612
              Number two is the lender.  And I'm 712
going to spend a few minutes -- maybe not minutes, 812
but a little while talking about that, because I 912
think that that is so critical. 1012
              Some of you know and some of you have 1112
heard me say that I was in the banking industry for 1212
about 16 years.  During that period of time I was 1312
never in the mortgage lending business, but over 1412
those 16 years I was probably involved in closing 1512
maybe 100 mortgage loans.  So I thought in a 1612
relative sense I knew a lot about the mortgage 1712
business and closing mortgage loans. 1812
              Yet every time I have sat down to 1912
close my own mortgage loan, I have felt at a 2012
disadvantage in terms of my understanding.  So I 2112
can imagine what a first time home buyer and a 2212
first time recipient of a mortgage loan would feel 2312
when they are confronted by all of the issues and 2412
all of the choices and all of the paperwork. 113
              There is a fundamental asymmetry in 213
knowledge that is built into that process between 313
the mortgage originator and the provider of the 413
mortgage and the recipient of the mortgage, and 513
that can't change.  That will always be the case. 613
              So there is a real responsibility 713
with the mortgage lenders, I think, not to be 813
abusive of that process.  To make sure that they 913
are recognizing that asymmetry and they are 1013
providing to a great deal the extent of appropriate 1113
education, the appropriate explanation, the 1213
appropriate assistance in choices that takes place 1313
with that product. 1413
              Now, I would also say that in most 1513
cases with most mortgage products over the years 1613
there has been a check and balance that has been 1713
built into the system in this respect.  The 1813
mortgages for the most part have been carefully 1913
underwritten.  And the significant development that 2013
has taken place in the mortgage market over the 2113
years, and I'm talking now over a 20-year time 2213
horizon, was the development of the secondary 2313
market.  It was that secondary market that provided 2413
access to a wider range of funding for the mortgage 114
product.  And that wider range of funding has 214
brought more people into the marketplace, has 314
allowed for homeownership for a wider number of 414
people than could have taken place without it. 514
              And historically, that secondary 614
market was a conforming product.  Was a 714
Fannie-Freddie conforming product typically, and 814
that Fannie-Freddie conforming product was very 914
carefully underwritten. 1014
              Today with the new nontraditional 1114
products and the voracious appetite of the 1214
secondary market for that product, it is not as 1314
clear that we have that same check and balance, 1414
that the underwriting is done as carefully.  That 1514
the market is taking into consideration the same 1614
ability to pay and the same risk aversion that had 1714
been the case before. 1814
              I don't know that for sure, I'll have 1914
to be honest with you.  We've looked at that very 2014
carefully, and we wonder.  We ask the question is 2114
risk appropriately measured in the secondary 2214
market? 2314
              That's why we have here on some of 2414
our panels some of the secondary market 115
participants that can help us understand that. 215
Because that has, on the one hand, significantly 315
widened the opportunities for mortgages, but it 415
brings in certain questions with respect to risk. 515
So that I think will be a fundamental focus of our 615
discussion here. 715
              Group number three that is of 815
interest are the community groups and the consumer 915
advocacy groups.  It's so clear from our 1015
perspective, and I speak I think on behalf of my 1115
Fed colleagues, and it is also clear from my 1215
background in the banking industry, that the 1315
consumer groups, and particularly the community 1415
groups, are very close to that market in a way. 1515
Especially in the emerging markets and the low-mod 1615
marketplace where the education needs to take place 1715
and where the opportunities to use financial 1815
products provide such a positive opportunity, but 1915
at the same time if those products are not used 2015
well, you could so easily get into a deep hole that 2115
is very difficult to get out of. 2215
              And working in partnership with the 2315
consumer and the community groups, this makes 2415
tremendous sense for everybody, so the ability of 116
that group to provide education, to provide a 216
feedback actually.  And I think we are going to 316
hear from a lot of community groups today who will 416
help do that. 516
              The fourth group who has an ownership 616
interest in this whole area is, of course, the 716
regulators, and that's why we are here.  We are the 816
rule writers.  In almost all cases it's Congress 916
that gives us a directive.  We rarely, if ever, 1016
initiate rules.  Congress tells us, gives us the 1116
outline, the framework, just as they have done with 1216
HMDA and they have done with HOEPA and Reg Z and a 1316
lot of others, and it is our responsibility to 1416
write the rules.  And that's why we are here. 1516
              A number of my other Fed colleagues 1616
are here, Jane, Jim.  Would those of you -- would 1716
my Fed colleagues please raise their hands and 1816
identify themselves.  Okay.  So we don't have you 1916
outnumbered yet, but you have us outnumbered only 2016
by about three to one so far.  So I'm sure that 2116
more people will be coming in. 2216
              Again, for those of you who are still 2316
coming in, welcome to these sessions.  We're 2416
proceeding on schedule, and we hope if we can even 117
get a jump on the start time, we would like to do 217
that. 317
              We will be hearing from three 417
panels.  And then at 3:00 o'clock today those of 517
you who would like to speak that were not on one of 617
the panels, we would ask you to sign in and we are 717
going to do that in three minute increments 817
beginning at 3:00 o'clock. 917
              Sandy, anybody else, is there 1017
anything else we need to say at the front end of 1117
the process? 1217
              We will then begin with the 1317
panelists.  And we will go clockwise starting with 1417
Jane.  And if you would please just introduce 1517
yourself briefly. 1617
              Starting with Diane.  It was a senior 1717
moment there, Diane.  I apologize for that.  And 1817
identify yourself.  And if you would, then, the 1917
group you're with and your five minute statement. 2017
And then after the five minute statement, then we 2117
will get questions from our panel here and an 2217
opportunity for interaction. 2317
    MS. THOMPSON:  Good morning.  Thank you, 2417
Governor Olson and Fed staff.  I'm very glad to 118
have the opportunity to be here.  My name is Diane 218
Thomas.  I'm a legal services lawyer and I work in 318
East St. Louis where I primarily represent low 418
income homeowners who are threatened with the loss 518
of their home. 618
              We have seen in the last ten years an 718
unbelievable rise in the amount of destructive home 818
mortgage lending.  The communities have literally 918
been devastated.  I think it's fair to say that 1018
there is probably not a block in the city of East 1118
St. Louis in which one or more homes have not been 1218
foreclosed.  Many of those homes sit vacant for 1318
years.  It's a terrible, terrible blight on the 1418
community. 1518
              The typical client we now see in our 1618
office is a young working couple or a single 1718
mother.  Some elderly people on fixed income, but 1818
many first time home buyers.  By and large, we are 1918
seeing first time home buyers who are being put 2018
into adjustable rate mortgages, typically at 2118
interest rates higher than what they're eligible 2218
for.  So they are being up-sold on the interest 2318
rate, often by a couple of points. 2418
              We're seeing adjustable rate 119
mortgages that start in this climate with the 219
teaser rate of anywhere between 10 to 12 percent 319
interest rate.  That's a teaser rate.  They 419
typically, once they are fully indexed, will go up 519
to something like 14 percent. 619
              There is very paltry and inadequate 719
disclosure.  Most of the people I see that are 819
buying these don't understand they have an 919
adjustable rate mortgage.  They don't understand 1019
how much it's going to go up, they don't understand 1119
what the index is, and they have no idea what the 1219
maximum payment is going to be. 1319
              We have cases in our office where the 1419
maximum payment could easily be more than the 1519
current income of the family.  And in many cases, 1619
the fully indexed rate would be 60 or 70 percent of 1719
the family's current income. 1819
              There is one case recently of a 1919
client in our office who ended up in one of these 2019
homes.  She had been in public housing.  She was 2119
working and she wanted to buy a home because she 2219
wanted to put her family on a better footing. 2319
              The center gets the call.  They get 2419
them out of the neighborhood that public housing 120
was in, to build pride in homeownership.  She ended 220
up in a house that had many problems, one of her 320
children ended up with lead poisoning.  And the 420
mortgage itself was very, very destructive.  In a 520
recent deposition she testified that she wished 620
she'd never moved out of public housing.  That her 720
life had been better when she was in public housing 820
than it was as a homeowner. 920
              I have clients that sit in my office 1020
every day and tell me that they now tell all of 1120
their friends that they should never become 1220
homeowners.  That being a homeowner is a trap, it 1320
is a downward spiral. 1420
              There is something seriously wrong 1520
with our system when I see every year close to 100 1620
families come through my door who determine that 1720
homeownership is a trap.  And that homeownership 1820
for them, instead of decreasing the wealth gap 1920
between whites and blacks, has only served to 2020
increase it. 2120
              I think there are two reasons we have 2220
seen this explosion of devastation.  The first 2320
Governor Olson has already alluded to, which is we 2420
have lost meaningful underwriting in many 121
circumstances.  Many of the loans I see would never 221
have been made if there were thorough and 321
responsible underwriting.  The ARMS that I see, if 421
you read in the pooling service agreement, it says 521
in the pooling servicing agreement that they 621
weren't underwritten for even the fully indexed 721
rate, let alone the maximum rate.  There is no 821
attempt to determine whether or not these loans 921
when they index upwards in two years are going to 1021
be able to be paid. 1121
              There is no residual income test. 1221
And if you're making loans to people who are low 1321
income, a family of four who is earning $1200 a 1421
month, you can't assume that 50 percent of that 1521
income is going to be available for principal and 1621
interest without seeing how much more they are 1721
going to have to pay for utility costs, for taxes, 1821
for insurance, and then allowing something so that 1921
they can eat and put clothes on their children's 2021
backs. 2121
              I think that one of the reasons that 2221
we have see this dearth of underwriting is the lack 2321
of assigning liability, and the difficulty of 2421
assigning liability in those situations where it 122
is.  The only place where we see meaningful 222
assignment of liability is in HOEPA loans.  Even 322
that in Illinois has had to be hard fought over and 422
over again. 522
              What that means is that Wall Street 622
has been, I think, very good at pooling these loans 722
and pricing the risks so that investors in the 822
aggregate are not losing money on these loans.  But 922
homeowners are not given the same kind of 1022
disclosures that Wall Street investors are. 1122
              One very obvious example is the 1222
pooling servicing agreement that I mentioned.  They 1322
talk about how they haven't done the underwriting 1422
for the fully indexed rate.  The homeowners all 1522
believe that that has been done, and it's not. 1622
    GOVERNOR OLSON:  Thank you very much, Diane. 1722
              Thomas James. 1822
    MR. JAMES:  Good morning, and thanks -- 1922
    GOVERNOR OLSON:  Could you pull the microphone 2022
over. 2122
    MR. JAMES:  Sure.  Good morning and thanks for 2222
inviting me.  Diane is always a very hard act to 2322
follow, and I will keep my comments short as she 2422
said everything I wanted to say. 123
              I think one of the things that -- 223
    GOVERNOR OLSON:  Could you identify the group 323
that you represent? 423
    MR. JAMES:  Sure.  I'm with the Illinois 523
Attorney General's Office.  So we are the police 623
and regulatory of the state apparatus. 723
              I was one of the chief authors of our 823
High Risk Home Loan Act, a mini-HOEPA that we have 923
in effect here in Illinois that really shadows 1023
HOEPA in a lot of ways.  Except that we tweaked it 1123
to lower the triggers to 5 percent on these 1223
points.  And where we saw most of the -- where we 1323
see or we did see historically most of these used. 1423
              And I want to say that HOEPA and I 1523
think our Act have been entirely effective in 1623
shutting down that abuse.  So that I think less 1723
than 1 percent of loans that are written today are 1823
HOEPA or high home -- High Home Loan Risk Act 1923
susceptible. 2023
              So I encourage you to look at HOEPA 2123
and to tweak it more.  I think the triggers can 2223
come down to the levels that we have in Illinois 2323
easily to shut down the front end abuse that we see 2423
in fees and points. 124
              And I want to say that one of the 224
side effects has been that the abuses have been 324
pushed into other areas.  Particularly structural 424
areas, in the way loans are structured.  Foremost 524
among those are prepayment penalties, teaser rates 624
that end before the prepayment penalties end. 724
Margins that are never disclosed to consumers, 824
margins over the index rate.  And then, of course, 924
the ARM. 1024
              And the ARM is really the source of a 1124
tremendous amount of abuse in the marketplace. 1224
People simply don't understand how the mechanism 1324
works.  And they don't understand how the indexes 1424
fluctuate, they don't understand that they are 1524
written into loans with an initial rate below which 1624
their loan will never descend. 1724
              So I encourage the Board, the Fed, to 1824
look at the structural abuses that are -- that 1924
consumers have no chance. 2024
              Yesterday I was in a training session 2124
with 11 experienced lawyers and I handed out the 2224
current disclosures that are given with ARMS.  And 2324
I gave everybody three minutes to read those 2424
disclosures.  Then I gave them five minutes to read 125
those disclosures.  And then at ten minutes, I 225
called time.  And there wasn't an individual in 325
that room who could explain to me the nature of a 425
transaction that they would engage in as lawyers 525
were they to go through with that loan. 625
              So in the disclosure areas we work in 725
an atmosphere of basically total failure.  We don't 825
know how to communicate the nature of the products 925
to the consumers. 1025
              And if you go, if you flip in the 1125
commentary to the disclosures, the ARM disclosures, 1225
they're completely laughable.  First of all, we are 1325
in an age of technology where we can and we have 1425
forced Ameriquest to give the real deal when the 1525
deal goes down.  They have to give the real figures 1625
at the point where the consumer is making the 1725
choice to buy.  And that comes before the closing, 1825
it comes at the sale of the loan.  And the sale 1925
comes with the push marketing, and that comes with 2025
the first contact.  Particularly in under-served 2125
communities where banks don't exist historically. 2225
              So at that initial contact when the 2325
offer is made, the real figures have to be given. 2425

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2006 Hearings