About us
Mission Statement
The Community Home Lenders of America (CHLA) is a national non-profit association of small and mid-sized community-based mortgage lenders. The mission of the CHLA is to promote federal mortgage programs, rules, and regulations which treat community mortgage lenders fairly, and which reflect the critical importance that community mortgage lenders play in providing broad access to credit for borrowers, in increasing competition in mortgage markets, and in providing borrowers with quality mortgage services and access to loans at a local level.
Community mortgage lenders face both significant challenges and new growth opportunities as the landscape for mortgage lending and servicing continues to change at an unprecedented rate. Federal agencies are issuing a number of new regulations under Dodd-Frank, the CFPB continues to grow, and Congress is beginning a vigorous debate on the financial status and role of FHA, on the future of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, and on steps that could be taken to bring private capital back into mortgage markets, in order to shrink the footprint of Fannie, Freddie, and FHA.
These changes could have a major impact on community mortgage lenders. However, too often, policy makers in Washington hear only the voices of the biggest players, including so-called “too-big-to-fail” firms – often ignoring the perspective of other lender/servicers in the market.

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Membership in CHLA gives members the opportunity to stay informed of developments in Washington that affect their business, to collaborate with like-minded firms, and to participate in efforts to influence Washington decision makers to adopt policies that affirm CHLA objectives. Join Now!
CHLA submits comment letter on illinois CRA draft regulations
CHLA submits a formal comment letter on the draft regulations to implement the Illinois CRA law for IMBs – including a proposal to increase minority
Scotsman Guide: FHFA delays implementation of controversial DTI-based loan fees
A Scotsman Guide article on FHFA’s 3-month delay of higher LLLPAs for GSE loans over 40% DTI highlights CHLA’s praise for the delay and continued
Housing wire: Setting the record straight on IMBs
A Housing Wire Oped by Christina Brown of Atlantic Bay Mortgage explains the CHLA release of their report on IMB regulatory creep – rebutting the