Latest news with #BillPulte
New York Times
6 days ago
- Business
- New York Times
Behind Trump's War With Powell: A Battering Ram With 3 Million Followers
At a meeting with House Republicans earlier this month, President Trump waved a draft of a letter firing the Federal Reserve chair, Jerome H. Powell. The letter, which rattled Washington and global markets, was not written by Mr. Trump or his core economic advisers. Instead, it was drafted by Bill Pulte, the director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency, who has used his perch and his social media prowess to become the Trump administration's loudest critic of Mr. Powell. The campaign against Mr. Powell has given Mr. Pulte, an heir of one of America's largest home building families, a new prominence within the Trump administration that exceeds the usually quiet confines of the agency. A longtime social media maven, Mr. Pulte has deployed his bombastic tone and his credibility from the construction industry to argue that the Fed's policies are hurting the housing market and that a $2.5 billion renovation of its headquarters is an example of reckless spending by the central bank. 'I believe Jerome Powell is conducting economic warfare against America,' Mr. Pulte wrote on the platform X this month. For weeks, Mr. Pulte, who has three million followers, has either called for Mr. Powell to resign or be investigated over a renovation to the Federal Reserve building in Washington that he has said is 'riddled with fraud.' The approach has also been an opportunity for Mr. Pulte to ingratiate himself with the president, a developer. Within hours of Mr. Trump making a comment about his frustration with Mr. Powell's policy on interest rates, Mr. Pulte usually takes to 'X' with a post demanding Mr. Powell's resignation. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Fox News
23-07-2025
- Business
- Fox News
Federal Housing Finance Agency director pledges to ‘get to the bottom' of Fed's renovation plan
Director of the Federal Housing Finance Agency Bill Pulte shares his concerns about the Federal Reserve's $2.5 billion renovation plan on 'The Ingraham Angle.'
CNBC
21-07-2025
- Business
- CNBC
FICO CEO on criticism from FHFA's Bill Pulte
William Lansing, FICO CEO, joins CNBC's 'Squawk on the Street' to discuss criticism from Federal Housing Finance Agency director Bill Pulte, alleging FICO is a monopoly.
Axios
21-07-2025
- Business
- Axios
How two new government policies could help make housing more affordable in Nashville
Housing stakeholders in Nashville hope two new policies — one at the federal level and another at the local level — play at least small parts in making homeownership more affordable and accessible. Why it matters: No single policy will magically solve the city's affordability crisis, but every drop in the bucket helps. Experts say the new policies could especially benefit new homeowners. Driving the news: The Federal Housing and Finance Administration announced a new policy allowing lenders to factor in a prospective homebuyer's rent payment history when approving a mortgage application. Up to this point, lenders used the FICO system, which considers a borrower's credit card and loan history when calculating their creditworthiness. Experts say the old system gave FICO a monopoly, and that adding in the new VantageScore credit score option creates competition that should lower fees for borrowers. The big picture: National Realtors Association chief advocacy officer Shannon McGahn applauded the policy shift, saying it "better reflects how today's consumers manage their finances." FHFA director Bill Pulte took a victory lap after the announcement and credited President Trump for the policy change. He says the competition will help homeowners. The policy will take some time to be implemented as FHFA works out administrative details. What she's saying: Christi Wedig, a loan originator with CMG Home Loans, tells Axios the FHFA policy switch should help borrowers like young people and immigrants who haven't taken out a loan or a credit card. "I think it's going to be really helpful across the country, and particularly here in Nashville," she says. "Rent is not cheap here. If you're paying $2,500 to $3,000 a month, you deserve some impact on your credit score." Yes, but: There are also risks since a single missed payment for a utility bill or rent didn't impact a person's credit score in the past. There's also the question of whether a landlord reports successful rent payments to VantageScore, something a local mom and pop landlord may not do. Wedig says it's important renters make sure their payments are verifiable through transaction history such as checks, electronic transfers or Venmo. Renters can register their own payment history through third-party companies to boost their VantageScore rating, although that service typically costs money. Metro approves new multi-family construction rule Zoom in: At the local level, Metro Council passed legislation last week that updates codes regulations to allow a multi-family building to be constructed with a single staircase. The policy applies to buildings up to six stories. Homebuilders say the policy will significantly lower their costs, which should benefit both renters and condo buyers. Between the lines: Advocates, such as Metro Councilmember Rollin Horton, say the single-stair design is cost effective and "just as, or even more safe" for residents. The state passed enabling legislation allowing local governments to implement the new code. Council members collaborated with the Fire Marshal's office, Codes Department and Planning Department to create the policy.
Wall Street Journal
17-07-2025
- Business
- Wall Street Journal
The Home-Builder Heir Who Is Stoking the Jerome Powell Frenzy
The Federal Housing Finance Agency, created in 2008 to oversee mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, has historically been a sleepy agency run by a relative unknown. Bill Pulte is turning that on its head.
