There is no better way to quickly buoy hard-pressed homeowners than helping them take advantage of the currently record low fixed mortgage rates and significantly reduce their monthly mortgage payments.

Predicting recessions is indeed a dark art, but I think we are several years away from the next one.

Indeed, the FHA was born out of the Great Depression, which was also caused in significant part by a foreclosure crisis. Mortgages in the early 1930s were mostly three- to five-year 'bullet' loans, which did not amortize and were due in full at maturity.

It has become fashionable to rail against government intervention in the economy, and the FHA is a favorite example by those trying to show the government's overreach. In reality, the FHA shows how government action during the Great Recession forestalled a much worse economic fate.

Yes. I don't think it would be appropriate at this point to raise taxes on anyone, certainly not in 2011.

I've done work for both Democrats and Republicans.

If Mr. Trump gets precisely the policies he says he wants, then the economy will suffer a recession.