Testimony Before The House Committee On Financial Services Re: Subprime Lending: Defining The Market And Its Customers

The growth of the conventional mortgage market has expanded the number of people who can purchase a home and build equity. But a more recent and disturbing trend has been the significant growth of subprime lending, particularly in the home refinance and home equity market. Because of the importance of preserving equity, problems associated with foreclosures, and terms and practices associated with high-cost loans, we are concerned with the tremendous growth in the subprime market, particularly for refinance loans.