Running Between Parallel Agendas
BLOG VIEW: No one was particularly surprised when the Obama administration announced that it would not meet its Jan. 31 deadline to provide...
It’s Getting Better All The Time
WORD ON THE STREET: In the third quarter of 2009, the U.S. economy began to emerge from the deepest recession of the post-World...
Delay Tactics
BLOG VIEW: 'Good things happen to those who wait' may be a suitable mantra for jam-band devotees, but one has to wonder if...
MBA Gives State Of Real Estate Finance Address
REQUIRED READING: The projected dollar volume for one- to four-family mortgage originations this year will fall to $966 billion from about $1.5 trillion...
Granite’s Penny Roach: Construction Lending Not For The Weak-Hearted
PERSON OF THE WEEK: One corner of the commercial real estate world that has suffered particular stress is construction lending. This week, MortgageOrb.com...
Do We Really Need A New Office Of Minority And Women Inclusion?
BLOG VIEW: Last week, the Federal Reserve announced that it had established offices to 'promote diversity and inclusion at the Federal Reserve Board...
Addressing Today’s Foreclosure Crisis
WORD ON THE STREET: If we are to successfully respond to today's foreclosure crisis, all parties involved must recognize some important principles. Loss...
The Right (And Wrong) Way To Use Appraisal Technology
REQUIRED READING: These days, there is a big push across the industry for greater transparency. All parties, from originators to investors to regulators,...
Monetary Policy And The Role Of Dissent
WORD ON THE STREET: As we begin 2011, recent economic data indicate a firmer tone in the outlook, and I am increasingly confident...
The Overlap Of Foreclosure Deficiencies And Title Insurance
REQUIRED READING: The presence of a foreclosure in the chain of title does not alter the title industry's duty to provide title assurance...
Making A Case For ‘.bank’
BLOG VIEW: The American Bankers Association (ABA) recently created a task force that is charged with putting together recommendations for the creation of...
Laying The Foundation For A Covered-Bond Market
WORD ON THE STREET: Covered bonds can play a role in an institution's overall funding strategy, offer a new source of funds for...
Are Servicing Standards And QRM Rulemaking Compatible?
BLOG VIEW: Should federal regulators take up loan servicing standards as part of the Qualified Residential Mortgage (QRM) rulemaking process? That's the question...
A Rule Refresher For MERS Members
REQUIRED READING: The first full month of winter is now upon us, and snow blankets the landscape in much of the country, providing...
Taylor Cottam Observes The Federal Power Struggle
PERSON OF THE WEEK: The 112th Congress is now in session, and it could have a significant impact on how the financial services...
Rewriting History, Elizabeth Warren-Style
BLOG VIEW: Some people have the gift of saying the most outlandish things with the most convincing sincerity. These people are usually blessed...
The Push And Pull Of Foreclosure Alternatives, Legal Obligations
WORD ON THE STREET: The recently identified deficiencies in the preparation and handling of legal documents to carry out foreclosures are unacceptable. While...
Due-Diligence Requirements Change With The Times
REQUIRED READING: For the past two years, the question on everyone's mind has been, what will it take to restart the non-agency securitization...
Show Of Force: The Ins And Outs Of Lender-Placed Insurance
REQUIRED READING: With the bursting of the U.S. housing market bubble, a number of formerly little-considered terms in a typical mortgage have gained...
Proper Document Diligence Will Stem Compliance Losses
REQUIRED READING: The soaring number of residential foreclosures, personal bankruptcies and mortgage modifications taking place today is exposing the failure of...