Homeownership & Foreclosure

Mortgage Lending & Access to Homeownership

Homeownership is the key to building wealth and economic opportunity in the United States. NCLC works to preserve and expand homeownership for low-income families and communities of color, supporting policies that promote sustainable homeownership and remove barriers to affordable and fair mortgages. This includes combatting predatory rent-to-own schemes that operate on a false promise of homeownership.

Home Equity Investment Loans Are Subprime Mortgages: Federal and State Policymakers Should Update Rules to Protect Consumers

November 24, 2025

The time has come for policymakers to protect homeowners from the risks this product poses and those who may abuse it. HEI loans are really just another form of mortgage and should be regulated like other forms of mortgage credit.

Read More about: Home Equity Investment Loans Are Subprime Mortgages: Federal and State Policymakers Should Update Rules to Protect Consumers
August 13, 2024
August 9, 2024

Featured

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Comments to HUD on Their Disparate Impact Proposed Rule

February 13, 2026

Proposal Would Allow Banks to Charge Homeowners Hidden Fees and Override State Laws

January 30, 2026

Comments to the OCC Regarding Interest-on-Escrow Preemption Determination and Real Estate Lending Accounts Rule

January 29, 2026

As MLK Day Approaches, HUD Takes Steps to Reduce Access to Housing

January 16, 2026

Santiago v. D.R. Horton, Inc., and DHI Mortgage Company, Ltd.

December 4, 2025

Robinson et al v. D.R. Horton, Inc., and DHI Mortgage Company, Ltd.

December 3, 2025

Home Equity Investment Loans Are Subprime Mortgages: Federal and State Policymakers Should Update Rules to Protect Consumers

November 24, 2025

Massachusetts H.1106 Will Legalize Hiding Dangerous Mortgage Terms

November 21, 2025

Fact Sheet for Regulating Shared Appreciation Mortgages; Massachusetts S.731 / H.1145

November 14, 2025

Comments & Letters

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Comments to HUD on Their Disparate Impact Proposed Rule

February 13, 2026

Comments to the OCC Regarding Interest-on-Escrow Preemption Determination and Real Estate Lending Accounts Rule

January 29, 2026

2026-2028 Enterprise Housing Goals

November 3, 2025

Fair Housing Coalition Letter Opposing Repeal of FHFA’s Fair Lending Rule

September 26, 2025

Underserved Mortgage Markets Coalition Letter to FHFA Urging Preservation of Fair Lending Rule

September 26, 2025

Coalition letter to HUD and OMB Opposing Weakening of Disparate Impact Rule

September 2, 2025

Letter to FHFA on Cryptocurrency in Mortgage Lending

August 14, 2025

Recommendations for Improving Conn. S.B. 1257, Regarding Home Equity Investment Loans

May 19, 2025

NCLC/CRL Statement for the Record

March 7, 2025

Reports

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Cracking the Code: Understanding and Overcoming Language Barriers in Consumer Finance

September 24, 2024

Report: How GSE Note Sales Undermine Homeownership

January 30, 2023

Toxic Transactions: How Land Installment Contracts Once Again Threaten Communities of Color

July 14, 2016

Opportunity Denied: How HUD’s Note Sale Program Deprives Homeowners of the Basic Benefits of Their Government-Insured Loans

May 2, 2016

Issue Briefs

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Home Equity Investment Loans Are Subprime Mortgages: Federal and State Policymakers Should Update Rules to Protect Consumers

November 24, 2025

Massachusetts H.1106 Will Legalize Hiding Dangerous Mortgage Terms

November 21, 2025

Fact Sheet for Regulating Shared Appreciation Mortgages; Massachusetts S.731 / H.1145

November 14, 2025

2025 Consumer Protection Federal Priorities

October 21, 2024

Myths and Facts About Ways to Increase Small Dollar Mortgage Lending 

August 9, 2024

Policy Recommendations: Ways to Prevent Built-to-Fail Land Contracts and Lease-Options From Hijacking the American Dream of Homeownership 

August 9, 2024

Why Title Reviews Should Not Create Unnecessary Barriers to HAF Assistance

August 1, 2021

Why Homeowner Assistance Fund Programs Should Be Accessible to Homeowners in Bankruptcy

July 1, 2021

Homeowners Need a Homeowner Assistance Fund and Additional Relief to Prevent a Coming Foreclosure Crisis

January 1, 2021

Testimony

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Written Testimony to Maine Legislature Joint Standing Committee on Taxation in Support of LD 1901

May 14, 2025

Testimony Against Washington State HESA Bill HB 1464

February 14, 2025

Testimony of Sarah B. Mancini on Alternative Home Financing Before the Senate Banking Subcommittee on Housing, Transportation, and Community Development

July 11, 2023

The LIBOR Transition: Protecting Consumers and Investors

November 2, 2021

Press Releases & News

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Proposal Would Allow Banks to Charge Homeowners Hidden Fees and Override State Laws

January 30, 2026

As MLK Day Approaches, HUD Takes Steps to Reduce Access to Housing

January 16, 2026

Homeowners Sue D.R. Horton Over Deceptive Home Sales & Financing Scheme

October 1, 2025

Congress Cracks Down on Spam Offers Targeting Homebuyers

August 5, 2025

Bill Makes Strides Toward Sustainable Homeownership 

July 29, 2025

Presidential Action Enables Discrimination in Housing and Lending

April 25, 2025

NCLC Co-Director of Advocacy Testifies at CFPB Field Hearing on Abusive Land Contracts

August 13, 2024

Consumer and Industry Advocates Highlight Measures to Counter Rise in Elder Real Estate Fraud and Financial Exploitation

June 14, 2024

Detroit Free Press: UWM offers 0% down payment mortgages: Here are the risks, who’s eligible

May 31, 2024

LIBOR

The LIBOR was a benchmark index, also known as a reference rate, commonly used in millions of adjustable rate mortgages, Home Equity Line of Credit (HELOCs), and student loans.

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From the NCLC Digital Library

Mortgage Lending

NCLC’s continuously updated treatise on origination, preemption, and litigation. Including new underwriting standards, automated valuation, and the ability-to-repay requirement, changes to uniform residential loan applications, and more.

Read Chapter One

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