On December 9–10, 2009, the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago hosted a conference on mortgage foreclosure policy with the help of the Chicago Community Trust, Neighborhood Housing Services of Chicago, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Woodstock Institute.

Subprime mortgage lending is controversial. Its critics see excessive prices, unfair terms and "predatory" practices. Proponents see a much narrower set of problems. Legislative and regulatory solutions to perceive problems are being implemented piecemeal across states and even local...

Many regulatory changes go into effect in 2009 and 2010 as the government works to increase the knowledge of consumers who are shopping for credit.

Reformers should review the loan-to-value guidelines for real estate lending, toughen them up where necessary and, most important, put the force of law behind them.

Texas has a rather quick foreclosure process for non-home equity loans. (Home equity loans must be foreclosed judicially.) The process is conducted by the trustee designated by the lender in the deed of trust (the mortgage instrument) without any court involvement.