MBA backs CFPB strategic plan, urges broader mortgage rule relief

😊 It's Monday! Welcome back. Today's newsletter is 606 words, a 2½-minutes read.

1. HOA liens climb 8.6% nationwide in 2025

According to property records compiled by Benutech, homeowner associations (HOAs) filed 284,933 liens against homeowners in 2025, an 8.6% increase from 262,446 in 2024.

The data shows the sharpest year-over-year gains occurred in the summer and fall, when many associations escalate from delinquency notices to legal enforcement tied to annual budget and assessment cycles.

Florida, Texas, California, Georgia, and Arizona together account for more than half of all HOA liens filed nationally, reflecting the concentration of HOA-governed communities across fast-growing Sun Belt markets.

2. MBA backs CFPB strategic plan, urges broader mortgage rule relief

The Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA) submitted a letter on Friday supporting the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) proposed 2026–2030 strategic plan, backing efforts to reduce regulatory burdens while urging the agency to go further in easing mortgage rules that expand credit access.

The draft plan, published for public comment on March 13, outlines three primary goals: addressing key consumer risks, reducing unwarranted regulatory burdens, and strengthening the agency’s governance and culture. The public feedback submission period ended on Friday.

3. More Nuggets

🚫 Dr. Lawrence Yun: Mortgage rates won’t drop to 3%. (Inman)

🤖 75% of homebuyers expect AI in the mortgage process. (Cotality)

📢 Maine enacts the first state law to regulate home equity investments. (NCLC)

💵 Commercial and multifamily mortgage debt outstanding increased to $5T in Q4. (MBA)

👨‍💼 Invesco Mortgage Capital names Kevin Collins as CEO. (Invesco)

4. Renting remains more affordable than buying

Renting continues to be more affordable than buying a starter home across all 50 of the largest metropolitan areas, according to Realtor.com’s March 2026 rental report.

The median asking rent for one- to two-bedroom units fell to $1,669, down 1.5% year over year. That marks the 32nd consecutive month of annual rent declines.

At the same time, the gap between renting and buying remains significant. On average, renters are saving about $920 per month compared to the typical monthly cost of purchasing a starter home.

5. Report: Foreclosure filings rise 26% in Q1 2026

According to ATTOM’s latest foreclosure report, 118,727 properties recorded a foreclosure filing in Q1 2026, up 6% from Q4 2025 and 26% year over year. In March alone, 45,921 properties had filings, an 18% increase from February and 28% higher than March 2025.

Foreclosure starts, an early warning indicator, rose to 82,631 properties in Q1 2026, up 7% from the previous quarter and 20% from a year earlier.

ATTOM also found that properties foreclosed in Q1 spent an average of 577 days in the process, down 3% from Q4 and 14% year over year. This marks the sixth consecutive quarter of declining timelines.

States with the highest foreclosure rates were Indiana (one in every 739 housing units), South Carolina (one in every 743), and Florida (one in every 750).

☀️ You’re all caught up. See you on Wednesday!

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