MBA’s Transformation ‘Far More Than A Marketing Effort’
As the mortgage banking industry continues to be reshaped by legislative, regulatory and economic factors, the Mortgage Bankers Association (MBA), which is celebrating...
Pay Now, Get Nothing
A recent report from the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) indicates there has been an increase in the number of complaints about foreclosure...
The Mortgage Implications Of Wildfires
When people think of wildfire risk, they probably think of heavily wooded forests and the second homes located within these scenic, remote areas....
No Wonder They’re Living With Their Parents
College graduates are struggling with student loans so much that it's affecting the housing market - that's according to the Federal Reserve Bank...
Water – And Complaints About FEMA – Everywhere
It's never too late to fight against legislation, even if the law was passed more than a year ago. The Biggert-Waters Flood Insurance...
All In The Family: Ability-To-Repay, QM And HOEPA
The ability-to-repay (ATR) rule, the qualified mortgage (QM) rule and the Home Ownership and Equity Protection Act (HOEPA) all share the same DNA....
When Home Builders Are Happy, Everyone’s Happy
Home builders are confident - and that might mean opportunity for some lenders. In September, builder confidence in the market for newly built,...
High-End Home Market Still Going Strong
Despite rising interest rates and the subsequent decline in mortgage originations, the luxury home market is still going strong - and not because...
Multifamily Spurs Commercial Real Estate’s ‘Spotty’ Comeback
The commercial real estate comeback has been spotty. Multifamily, a bright spot, has garnered much attention lately, but industry experts say office is...
Pink Slips Arrive As Servicing Volume Wanes
Large banks are announcing mass layoffs in their mortgage origination and servicing operations, and some are pointing to their own successes as the...
Mind The Gap: ERM Strategy For Today’s Lending Concerns
If you've ever taken a ride on London's Underground, also known as 'The Tube,' you've likely heard that cool British female voice gently...
Pay To Post
When the Colorado attorney general's office began investigating two Denver law firms for overbilling practices related to foreclosures, the office also uncovered alleged...
Can I Get Fries With That Mortgage?
Most everyone in the mortgage business agrees that the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's (CFPB) ability-to-repay/qualified mortgage (ATR/QM) rules, due to take effect in...
Seize The Day – Or The Mortgage
Some U.S. cities are finding that no matter how you use eminent domain or propose to use it, the concept will generate controversy....
Don’t Call A Lawyer
A recent South Carolina Supreme Court ruling confirmed what some mortgage professionals in the state had hoped: They do not need a lawyer...
Community Banks Are (Mostly) Pleased With Basel III
In July, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and, later, the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency (OCC) and the Federal Reserve Board...
Mortgage Industry Stakeholders Say PATH Act Has Some Flaws
Representatives of various industry trade groups testified before the House Financial Services Committee last week to provide their feedback on the proposed Protecting...
CFPB’s Readiness Guide Gets Mixed Reviews
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) published its 2013 Dodd-Frank Mortgage Rules Readiness Guide. The 22-page document, which is available online only, offers...
FHA Mortgage Insurance Policy Change Results In More HPML Loans
If you originate FHA-backed loans, you already are aware that the mortgage insurance premium policy change that recently took effect creates new challenges...
Appraisers Try To Keep Up With The Bidding Wars
In another anecdotal sign that the housing market is improving, real estate experts are reporting bidding wars in residential real estate. In some...