Leonard Ryan: New HMDA Data Will Be A ‘Lawyer’s Paradise’
PERSON OF THE WEEK: Leonard Ryan is founder and president of QuestSoft, a provider of automated compliance software to the mortgage banking industry. MortgageOrb...
Assurant Acquires American Title For About $45 Million
In keeping with its plan to exit the health insurance and employee benefits industries and focus on mortgage and real estate services, Assurant Inc....
Wade Hamby: More Clarity Around TRID Greatly Needed
PERSON OF THE WEEK: Wade Hamby is the national director of sales and marketing for The StoneHill Group, a provider of domestic mortgage outsourcing...
FHFA: 24% Of NPLs Sold Through May Have Been ‘Resolved’
Of the 24% that had been "resolved," about 12% were resolved without foreclosure (deed-in-lieu, paid in full, short sale, loan mod or self cure) and 12% were resolved through foreclosure.
Josh Friend: What Lenders Can Do To Prevent Borrower Frustration
PERSON OF THE WEEK: Josh Friend is founder and CEO of InSellerate, a specialized customer relationship management system that enables lenders to immediately connect...
HUD Making ‘Significant’ Changes To DASP
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) is making some "significant" changes to its Distressed Asset Stabilization Program (DASP).
Now, investors and nonprofits...
HUD: Counseling Helps Keep First-Time Home Buyers Out Of Default
A "rigorous, large-scale" study conducted by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) reveals what many people in the mortgage industry already...
Dennis Boggs: Mortgage Lenders Moving Rapidly To Cloud-Based Origination
"A great deal of the origination process is now digital, and we are getting very, very close to complete e-mortgages."
Surety Bond Now Required For Idaho Appraisal Management Companies
BLOG VIEW: In Idaho and across the country, the appraisal management industry is still young, but a new law passed by the state will...
CFPB: Mortgage Servicers Must Upgrade Systems To Meet Compliance
"While the servicing market has made some investments in compliance, those investments have not been sufficient across the marketplace to ensure compliance."
Black Knight Acquires Motivity Solutions
Mortgage technology firm Black Knight Financial Services has acquired Motivity Solutions, which provides customized mortgage business intelligence (BI) analytics, for an undisclosed sum.
Through the...
Fannie Mae Postpones Release Of DU Version 10.0
It is unclear whether the delay has anything to do with incorporation of trended credit data.
Sam Heskel: Appraisers Are Badly In Need Of A Raise
"Already, we’re seeing appraisers in some rural areas charging $800 for an appraisal, which is about double what lenders are usually willing to pay."
GTCR To Acquire Optimal Blue
Private equity firm GTCR is acquiring mortgage technology provider Optimal Blue.
Although the acquisition price has not been disclosed, according to a press release, GTCR...
Average FICO Score For Closed Mortgages Highest Since August 2015
The average FICO score on all closed mortgages was 724 in May, which is the fourth consecutive monthly increase and the highest average since...
Survey: Student Loan Debt Is Holding Back Potential Home Buyers
A nationwide survey of student loan borrowers who are non-homeowners reveals that about 71% see their student loans as a hindrance to getting a...
Anita Bush: How Fannie’s New Investor Reporting Requirements Will Impact Servicers
PERSON OF THE WEEK: Anita Bush is assistant vice president of mortgage servicer product development for FICS, which offers a variety of tools for...
NAR Pushing CFPB For TRID Reforms
Among other suggestions, NAR is asking the CFPB to make changes to TRID that will help allay investor concerns over TRID-related loan defects.
MBA: Mortgage Originations Slightly More Profitable In Q1
Despite decreasing volume and an increase in per-loan production expenses, independent mortgage banks and mortgage subsidiaries of chartered banks reported a net gain of...
New Automated Verification Services Lead To Improved Loan Quality
BLOG VIEW: At first glance, there has never been an easier time to get a loan. Financial institutions and lenders saturate the market with offers of low-cost credit - all promising quick approval.