Enemies Across The Internet
The state of cybersecurity has become more precarious than ever before, especially in relation to the financial services industry. Earlier this month, the...
A Risk Too High?
A proposed rule issued last month by the nation's six federal financial regulatory agencies seeks to establish new appraisal requirements for 'higher risk'...
With Friends Like These…
Do you remember those lectures that your parents gave you that always seemed to run along the lines of 'When I was your...
Bye-Bye, Fannie And Freddie?
Rep. Paul Ryan, R-Wis., the Republican vice presidential nominee, wants to do away with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac and privatize the secondary...
An Appalachian Nightmare
No one would ever blame the West Virginia financial services community for the events that led to the 2008 economic crash. However, the...
A Crisis Within A Crisis
Following three straight years in the doldrums, the manufactured housing industry is on track to record a 20% increase in sales this year....
The Dawning Of A New Compliance Era
As plans for the government's broadened oversight materialize, mortgage servicers are preparing for this new age of compliance. While today's housing market is...
The Next Chapter In Wholesale
On July 12, San Francisco-based Wells Fargo & Co. issued a press release announcing that it agreed to a $125 million settlement with...
The Industry’s Next Big Player?
While the mortgage banking industry continues to experience noisy convulsions resonating from the 2008 financial crash, credit unions have quietly become one of...
Eminent Domain, California-Style
Eminent domain, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is 'an exercise of the power of government or quasi-government...
Do We Need HARP 3.0?
First there was the Home Affordable Refinance Program (HARP), and then there was HARP 2.0. But is there going to be a HARP...
Does HUD Have A Handle On Multifamily Sector Problems?
The state of multifamily housing, particularly affordable housing, is becoming problematic, according to testimony delivered before a recent hearing of the House Subcommittee...
A New Future For The 203k Program?
The Federal Housing Administration's (FHA) 203k mortgage program lets home buyers wrap their first mortgage and renovation costs into a single loan. The...
A New Challenge To The Vacation-Home Market
Although vacation homes are typically purchased for personal use and lifestyle reasons, recent research by the National Association of Realtors (NAR) reveals a...
Mortgage Banking’s High-Tech Conundrum
The aftermath of the mortgage meltdown has forced lenders to scrutinize the capabilities of their technology to keep pace with regulatory and compliance...
The Volcker Rule: Salvation Or Disaster?
The Volcker Rule section of the Dodd-Frank Act has yet to be formally implemented, yet its potential impact on the financial services industry...
Reconsidering The AMCs’ Fee Model
A brief scan of the mainstream media, real estate trade, or social media leads informed readers to the same conclusion: Appraisal management companies...
States Divert Foreclosure Settlement Funds Away From Housing
On May 13, California Gov. Jerry Brown revised his proposed state budget in regard to the $410 million cash payment that the Golden...
How To Make SPOC Work Properly
A year ago, when the federal government began requiring mortgage servicers to have a single point of contact (SPOC) for defaulting borrowers, the...
Residential Fracking Puts Lenders In A Gassy Hole
Many homeowners are earning extra income by signing leases with natural gas companies to allow hydraulic fracturing combined with horizontal drilling on their...